Both Uses
elaborate
in
The Devil's Arithmetic
(Edited)
- Whether it was a dream or an elaborate game, she'd show them all she was a good sport.
Chpt 4 *elaborate = detailed and complicated
- The whole household seemed so reasonable, she had to keep reminding herself it was all a stage setting in some kind of elaborate dream.
Chpt 4elaborate = having details and complexity
Definitions:
-
(1)
(elaborate as in: elaborate on your plan) add details or explain in detail
-
(2)
(elaborate as in: an elaborate design) having details and complexity -- sometimes fancy or ornateDepending upon it's context, this sense of elaborate can additionally imply that details make something either:
- more special than others of its kind in a good way
- more complicated than necessary in a bad way
-
(3)
(elaborate as in: an elaborate wink) to exaggerate an actionAt times, this sense of elaborate can further imply that an action was exaggerated by prolonging it (performing it more slowly than normal).
- (4) (meaning too rare to warrant focus)