from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Picturesque \Pic`tur*esque"\, a. [It. pittoresco: cf. F.
pittoresque. See {Pictorial}.]
Forming, or fitted to form, a good or pleasing picture;
representing with the clearness or ideal beauty appropriate
to a picture; expressing that peculiar kind of beauty which
is agreeable in a picture, natural or artificial; graphic;
vivid; as, a picturesque scene or attitude; picturesque
language.
[1913 Webster]
What is picturesque as placed in relation to the
beautiful and the sublime? It is . . . the
characteristic pushed into a sensible excess. --De
Quincey.
[1913 Webster] -- {Pic`tur*esque"ly}, adv. --
{Pic`tur*esque"ness}, n.
[1913 Webster]