Over elaborate
Posted by Smokey Stover on September 23, 2004
In Reply to: 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.
: haha, oh my grammar!!!
: No no, I didn't add a redundant word to 'me', I meant that it 'sounded to me', like I added a redundant word. Smack my hand!
Being elaborate is not necessarily a mistake; being overelaborate is. SS
- There's 'elaborate' and there's 'elaborate' Lewis 23/September/04