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pastel
(pas tel′)
noun
- ground coloring matter mixed with gum and formed into a crayon
- such a crayon
- a picture drawn with such crayons
- drawing with pastels as an art form or medium
- a soft, pale shade of any color
Origin: Fr < It pastello < VL *pastellum, dim. of LL pasta, paste
adjective
- soft and pale: said of colors
- of pastel
- drawn with pastels
Related Forms:
- pastelist noun or pastellist
See pastel in American Heritage Dictionary 4
noun
- a. A drawing medium of dried paste made of ground pigments and a water-based binder that is manufactured in crayon form.b. A crayon of this material.
- a. A picture or sketch drawn with this type of crayon.b. The art or process of drawing with pastels.
- A soft delicate hue; a pale color: a room done all in pastels.
- A sketchy or brief prose work.
- Of, relating to, or made of pastel.
- Pale and soft in color.
Origin:
Origin: French
Origin: , from Italian pastello, material made into a paste
Origin: , from Late Latin pastellus, woad dye
Origin: , diminutive of pasta, paste; see paste1
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