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vignette

vi·gnette [ vin yét ]


noun  (plural vi·gnettes)
Definition:
 
1. short essay: a short descriptive piece of literary writing

2. brief scene: a brief scene from a movie or play

3. design on book page: a small decorative design printed at the beginning or end of a book or chapter of a book, or in the margin of a page

4. unbordered picture: a painting, drawing, or photograph that has no border but is gradually faded into its background at the edges

5. architectural ornamentation: a carved architectural decoration in the form of tendrils and leaves



transitive verb  (past and past participle vi·gnet·ted, present participle vi·gnet·ting, 3rd person present singular vi·gnettes)
Definition:
 
1. finish picture off by softening edges: to finish a painting, drawing, or photograph by gradually fading it into its background at the edges rather than giving it a border

2. describe something briefly: to describe something in a brief but elegant way

[Mid-18th century. < French, "small vine" (from such decorations in margins in early books) < vigne (see vine)]

vi·gnet·ter noun
vi·gnet·tist noun
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