svelteadj.

a1825 H. Fuseli Lect. x, in J. Knowles Life & Writings H. Fuseli (1831) II. 375 The Medicean Venus, however ‘suelt’,..has in length no more than seven heads and a half.

1838 A. B. Granville Spas Germany 246 The tall, svelte, pale, and interesting Countess P—k—n.

1887 M. E. Braddon Like & Unlike I. iii. 98 The Matron led the way, lovely, smiling,..svelte, graceful.

1909 E. Pound Personae 43 And first the cities of north Italy I did behold, Each as a woman wonder-fair, And svelte Verona first I met at eve.

1967 Listener 30 Mar. 434/1 His earlier work, technically less accomplished, rougher, coarser in execution, left a way open—one felt one could break out of the paint. But now his handling is so skilful, svelte, that all other possibilities are closed.

1974 N. Marsh Black as he's Painted xi. 78 Is our svelte hired limousine at the door?

1977 Gramophone July 202/1 His rhythmic pungency..in the third piece and the svelte charm of the central waltz..suggest that he might be equally at home with Roussel's symphonic music.