The word "aesthetic" has undergone a shift in meaning since its origins, moving from a focus on sensory perception to an association with the appreciation of beauty and art.

Here's a breakdown of its evolution:

• Ancient Greek Roots: The word stems from the Greek "aisthetikos," which means "of or for perception by the senses" or "perceptive." It's related to "aisthanesthai," meaning "to perceive (by the senses or by the mind), to feel".

• Early Usage: Initially, the term was used in a classical sense to refer to the "science which treats of the conditions of sensuous perception".

• German Influence: The German word "Ästhetisch" emerged in the mid-18th century, and was later adopted by French as "esthétique". Alexander Baumgarten used it in German to mean "criticism of taste" (1750s).

• Kant's Attempt to Reclaim: Immanuel Kant tried to reclaim the original meaning of the word, after Baumgarten's usage, but Baumgarten's sense gained popularity, freeing the word from its philosophical roots.

• Popularisation in English: The word was introduced into English in 1798, and was used in a classically correct sense as "science which treats of the conditions of sensuous perception".

• Shift in Meaning: By 1821, "aesthetic" was being used as an adjective to mean "of or pertaining to appreciation of the beautiful".

• "Art for Art's Sake" Movement: Walter Pater further blurred the meaning in 1868 by using it to describe the late 19th-century movement advocating "art for art's sake".

• Related Terms:

◦ Aestheticism: The term "aestheticism," meaning "devotion to what is sensuously beautiful," arose in 1855.

◦ Aesthetics: The noun "aesthetics," referring to the study of beauty and art, appeared in 1803.

• Related words: The sources mention related words such as "artistic" and "taste" which have connections to the aesthetic sense, and other words like "dude", "pretty", and "muscular" with links to the concept.

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