[ae]sthetics

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]