The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

AEsthetics \[AE]s*thet"ics\, Esthetics \Es*thet"ics\ (?; 277),
   n. [Gr. ? perceptive, esp. by feeling, fr. ? to perceive,
   feel: cf. G. [aum]sthetik, F. esth['e]tique.]
   The theory or philosophy of taste; the science of the
   beautiful in nature and art; esp. that which treats of the
   expression and embodiment of beauty by art.
   [1913 Webster]