There's 'elaborate' and there's 'elaborate'

Posted by Lewis on September 23, 2004

In Reply to: Over elaborate posted by Smokey Stover 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

as a verb 'elaborate' is often used to mean to expand the information - to add detail, whereas 'elaborate' as an adjective suggests detailed and perhaps displaying too much effort.
I wonder if it has more than one origin - 'labor' as in effort and 'lab' as in lips (labia) - a dual meaning - to bring something contrived out of the lips!

to 'over-elaborate' tends to be used when somebody is giving too luch information when they are making an excuse. I find it is best to keep it simple and as conveniently truthful as is consistent with the facts.