Over elaborate

Posted by Lotg on September 23, 2004

In a recent email to my ex-husband I jokingly accused him of 'over elaboration'. It wasn't until after I hit the SEND button that I thought that sounded like a very unpleasant word combo.

MW says thus:

Main Entry: 1elab·o·rate
Pronunciation: i-'la-b(&-)r&t
Function: adjective
Etymology: Latin elaboratus, from past participle of elaborare to work out, acquire by labor, from e- + laborare to work -- more at LABORATORY
1 : planned or carried out with great care
2 : marked by complexity, fullness of detail, or ornateness

So perhaps technically 'over elaborate' is not incorrect (double negatives, I love them). But opinions please? It sounds like I added a redundant word to me.

• Over elaborate Lotg 23/September/04
  • Over elaborate Smokey Stover 23/September/04
    • There's 'elaborate' and there's 'elaborate' Lewis 23/September/04