aesthetic (n.)

1798, from German Ästhetisch (mid-18c.) or French esthétique (which is from German), ultimately from Greek aisthetikos “of or for perception by the senses, perceptive,” of things, “perceptible,” from aisthanesthai “to perceive (by the senses or by the mind), to feel,” from PIE *awis-dh-yo-, from root *au- “to perceive.”

Popularized in English by translations of Kant and used originally in the classically correct sense “science which treats of the conditions of sensuous perception” [OED]. Kant had tried to reclaim the word after Alexander Baumgarten had taken it in German to mean “criticism of taste” (1750s), but Baumgarten’s sense attained popularity in English c. 1830s (despite scholarly resistance) and freed the word from philosophy. Walter Pater used it (1868) to describe the late 19c. movement that advocated “art for art’s sake,” which further blurred the sense. [Whewell had proposed callesthetics for “the science of the perception of the beautiful.”]

As an adjective by 1798 “of or pertaining to sensual perception;” 1821 as “of or pertaining to appreciation of the beautiful.” Related: Aesthetically.

glib (adj.)

1590s, “smooth and slippery,” a dialect word, possibly a shortening of obsolete glibbery “slippery,” which is perhaps from Low German glibberig “smooth, slippery,” from Middle Low German glibberich, from or related to glibber “jelly,” all part of the Germanic group of gl- words for “smooth, shining, joyful,” from PIE root *ghel- (2) “to shine.” Of words, speakers, etc., from c. 1600. Related: Glibly; glibness.

secession (n.)

1530s, from Latin secessionem (nominative secessio) “a withdrawal, separation; political withdrawal, insurrection, schism,” noun of action from past participle stem of secedere “go away, withdraw, separate; rebel, revolt,” from se- “apart” (see secret (n.)) + cedere “to go” (from PIE root *ked- “to go, yield”). Originally in a Roman historical context, “temporary migration of plebeians from the city to compel patricians to address their grievances;” modern use in reference to religious or political unions dates from 1650s.

Balkanize (v.)

1914, “to divide into small and mutually hostile groups,” as was the political condition of the Balkans; it is said to have been coined by English editor James Louis Garvin, but A.J. Toynbee (1922) credited it to “German Socialists” describing the results of the treaty of Brest-Litovsk. Either way, the reference is to the political situation in the Balkans c. 1878-1913, when the European section of the Ottoman Empire split up into small, warring nations. Balkanized and Balkanization both also are from 1920.

audacious (adj.)

1540s, “confident, intrepid, daring,” from Middle French audacieux, from audace “boldness,” from Latin audacia “daring, boldness, courage,” from audax “brave, bold, daring,” but more often “bold” in a bad sense, “rash, foolhardy,” from audere “to dare, be bold.” In English, the bad sense of “shameless, unrestrained by propriety” is attested from 1590s. Related: Audaciously; audaciousness.

conduct (v.)

early 15c., “to guide, accompany and show the way,” from Latin conductus, past participle of conducere “to lead or bring together; contribute, serve,” from assimilated form of com “with, together” (see con-) + ducere “to lead” (from PIE root *deuk- “to lead”).

Sense of “to lead, command, direct, manage” is from mid-15c., originally military. General meaning “to direct, manage, act as leader of” is from 1630s; especially of a musical performance (1791).

Meaning “behave in a certain way” is from 1710. In physics, “to carry, convey, transmit,” 1740. Related: Conducted; conducting. An earlier verb in the same sense was condyten (c. 1400), which goes with conduit.

To conduct is to lead along, hence to attend with personal supervision; it implies the determination of the main features of administration and the securing of thoroughness in those who carry out the commands; it is used of both large things and small, but generally refers to a definite task, coming to an end or issue: as, to conduct a religious service, a funeral, a campaign. [Century Dictionary]