noun
pulchritude
PUL-kri-tood/ˈpʌlkrɪtuːd/
Beauty of physical appearance.
The portrait emphasizes the subject's physical pulchritude.
Etymology
The pieces turn “beautiful” into a noun for the quality of beauty. The Latin noun also covered excellence and attractiveness; this sense focuses on physical appearance.
More examples
- The portrait celebrated physical pulchritude rather than rank.
- He used pulchritude as a grand word for beauty.
- The writer contrasted outward pulchritude with inward character.
Forms
pulchritude
Similar words
- beauty
- Beauty is the ordinary broad term; pulchritude is a formal word especially for physical beauty.
- grace
- Grace concerns pleasing movement or manner as well as appearance; pulchritude emphasizes physical beauty.