Final answer:
The denotative meaning of 'panache' can best be found in the Merriam-Webster Collegiate Dictionary, which will provide its literal meaning as 'a distinctive and stylish elegance'.
Step-by-step explanation:
To determine the denotative meaning of panache, a student should consult a dictionary that provides the definitions of words based on their literal or primary meaning. In this context, the best reference would likely be the Merriam-Webster Collegiate Dictionary.
Panache refers to a distinctive and stylish elegance or a confident and dashing manner. Dictionaries like Brewer's may provide idiomatic or phrase-oriented meanings, cultural dictionaries offer context within culture, and comparative dictionaries describe language use, but for the denotative meaning, a collegiate dictionary is most appropriate.