All 6 Uses of
elaborate
in
A Separate Peace
- I turned around with elaborate resignation.
p. 57..2 (definition 1)elaborate = exaggerated
- He elaborated without encouragement, citing the advantages of Devon's physical hardening program and of a high school diploma when he did in good time reach basic training.
p. 98..4 (definition 2) *elaborated = explained in more detail
- Brinker turned elaborately toward him.
p. 99..9 (definition 1) *elaborately = in an exaggerated manner
- And now when we were served chicken livers for dinner I couldn't help conceiving a mental picture of President Roosevelt and my father and Finny's father and numbers of other large old men sitting down to porterhouse steak in some elaborate but secluded men's secret society room.
p. 118..4 (definition 3)elaborate = special (with carefully arranged details)
- ...I was so clumsy and fumbling and embarrassed that my behavior throughout lunch amounted to one long and elaborate apology which, when she offered me a second dessert, I saw she had accepted.
p. 146..8 (definition 3) *elaborate = detailed
- Brinker began talking to him in the elaborately casual manner of someone being watched.
p. 173..9 (definition 1)elaborately = exaggeratedly
Definitions:
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(1) (elaborate as in: an elaborate wink) to exaggerate an actioneditor's notes: At times, this sense of elaborate can further imply that an action was exaggerated by prolonging it (performing it more slowly than normal).
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(2) (elaborate as in: elaborate on your plan) add details or explain in detail
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(3) (elaborate as in: an elaborate design) having details and complexity -- sometimes fancy or ornateeditor's notes: Depending 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