[ad. Gr. κοσμητικ-ός τelating to adornment, f. κοσμεῖν to arrange, adorn, f. κόσμ-ος order, adornment. Cf. F. cosmétique.]
A. adj. Having power to adorn, embellish or beautify (esp. the complexion); also = COSMETICAL.
1650. Bulwer, Anthropomet., Introd. Which damnable portion of cosmetique Art.
1699. Garth, Dispens., II. 20. Whilst Iris his cosmetick Wash must try, To make her Bloom revive.
1755. Smollett, Quix. (1803), IV. 13. When her face is smoothed … by a thousand cosmetic slops and washes.
a. 1845. Hood, Progress of Art, xii. Washed by my cosmetic brush How Beauty’s cheek began to blush.
B. sb.
1. A preparation intended to beautify the hair, skin or complexion.
1650. Bulwer, Anthropomet., 48. Recommend those Cosmetiques … which preserve hair for the use and intention of Nature.
1691. Ray, Creation, II. (1704), 437. No better Cosmeticks than a severe Temperance and Purity.
1783. Mad. D’Arblay, Diary, 3 Oct. Between her medicines, and the … cosmetics, I shall expect to become stout and beautiful.
1879. ‘E. Garrett’ (Mrs. Mayo), House by Works, I. 55. Knowing no cosmetic but cold water.
fig. 1842. H. Rogers, Introd. Burke’s Wks., I. 25. All the loathsome deformities of guilt disappear under the cosmetics which fortune can apply.
2. The art of adorning or beautifying the body. Also pl. (cf. athletics). [= Gr. ἡ κοσμητική.]
1605. Bacon, Adv. Learn., II. x. § 1. Art of decoration [of the body] which is called cosmetic.
1838–9. Hallam, Hist. Lit., III. ii. III. § 48. 37. Painting and music … counted as … only somewhat more liberal than cookery or cosmetics.
1865. Grote, Plato, II. xxii. 95. Cosmetic, or Ornamental Trickery, is the counterfeit of Gymnastic.
3. One who practises the cosmetic art. nonce-use.
1713. Guardian, No. 64. That you would place your petitioners at the head of the family of cosmetics [barber, perfumer, etc.].
