elaborate English · revision 10338

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=1581|origins=la elaboratus}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ɪˈlæb.(ə.)ɹət/, /ɪˈlæb.ə.ɹeɪt/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|la|ēlabōrātus]], the past participle of ēlabōrāre, to work out, exert oneself, acquire by labour,^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986)^(MWU 2024) from ē-, out, and labor, work (see [[labour]]).^(Hoad 1986)^(NODE 1998)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Produced or accomplished by labour: 1592 in the OED and Merriam-Webster, the 1590s in Etymonline;^(OED 1989)^(MWU 2024)^(Etymonline) the participle use is from 1581.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Worked out in great detail, highly finished, is from 1621 (the 1620s),^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline) from the idea of something produced with great care.^(Etymonline) Of an investigation, conducted with great minuteness, it is from 1649.^(OED 1989) The verb, to build up from simple elements, produce by labour, is from about 1600 (1611 in the OED),^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) to work out in detail from the 1610s,^(Etymonline) and to explain in detail, enlarge on a subject, from 1934.^(OED 1989) Blount's ''Glossographia'' (1656) has elaboratory, a workhouse.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1592 – produced by labour.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1611 – to produce by labour (verb).^(OED 1989)

+ * 1621 – highly detailed.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1656 – elaboratory.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1934 – to explain in detail.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Planned or carried out with great attention to detail.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Intricate, complex or ornate.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To give more detail; to expand on something.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # To work out carefully and in detail; to develop.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # To produce by effort.^(AHD)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[elaborately]]

+ * [[elaborateness]]

+ * [[elaboration]]

+ * [[elaborator]]

+ * [[elaborative]]

+ * [[superelaborate]]

+ * [[unelaborate]]

+ * [[overelaborate]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[labour]]

+ * [[labor]]

+ * [[collaborate]]

+ * [[laboratory]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}