balleticadj.
/bəˈlɛtɪk/, /baˈlɛtɪk/, U.S. /bæˈlɛdɪk/, /bəˈlɛdɪk/ Of, relating to, or designating (a) ballet; (also) characteristic of or resembling ballet, esp. in being graceful, controlled, etc.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > dancing > ballet > [adjective]
balletic1853
1853 E. Flagg Venice I. 73 The operatic, dramatic, or balletic entertainments.
1930 T. Karsavina Theatre St. ii. xvi. 212 A ‘balletic’ form of dance was termed classical from time immemorial.
1958 Times 16 Sept. 3/2 Two familiar balletic motifs are thus involved—the eternal triangle, and the opposition between mob and individual.
1994 Weekend Austral. (Brisbane) 15 Jan. (Review section) 11/5 He achieved star status with his almost balletic approach to violence, his combination of slow-motion..with sudden bursts of extraordinary mayhem.
2005 Spectator (Nexis) 8 Oct. 62 The transition from strictly balletic movements to ideas that are not stereotypically balletic came across as the result of a thoughtful process.
Derivatives
baˈlletically adv. in relation to ballet; in the manner of (a) ballet.
ΚΠ
1936 ‘C. Brahms’ Footnotes to Ballet ii. §6. 112 Balletically the symphonies evade him.
2003 N.Y. Times (National ed.) 5 Jan. ix. 8/5 I danced over to the English muffins, reaching balletically before stuffing them into the cart.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2008; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
<
adj.1853