elegant
(From Mathematics) Combining simplicity, power, and a certain
ineffable grace of design. Higher praise than "clever",
"winning" or even {cuspy}.
The French aviator, adventurer, and author Antoine de
Saint-Exup'ery, probably best known for his classic children's
book "The Little Prince", was also an aircraft designer. He
gave us perhaps the best definition of engineering elegance
when he said "A designer knows he has achieved perfection not
when there is nothing left to add, but when there is nothing
left to take away."
[{Jargon File}]
(1994-11-29)