Elaboration

[ad. late L. ēlabōrātiōn-em, noun of action f. ēlabōrāre: see ELABORATE v.]

  1.  The process of producing or developing from crude materials; † spec. in Chemistry (see quot. 1612). Also, the process of working out in detail, developing, perfecting (an invention, a theory, a literary work, etc.).

1612.  Woodall, Surg. Mate (Chemistry) (1617), 334.

1858.  Gladstone, Homer, III. 531. The first thought of Virgil was his Emperor … the second the elaboration of his verse.

  b.  The state of being elaborated; elaborateness.

1824.  Dibdin, Libr. Comp., 770. Intermediate editions of … less elaboration.

1861.  W. Collins, Dead Secr., 149. The housekeeper cleared her throat with extraordinary loudness and elaboration, and read on thus.

1877.  Mrs. Oliphant, Makers Flor., xiii. 319. Various copies exist in various stages of elaboration.

  2.  The production by natural agencies of chemical substances from their elements or sources; spec. (in Physiology) the formation of animal or vegetable tissues, or the changes undergone by alimentary substances from their reception into the body to their complete assimilation.

1578.  Banister, Hist. Man, V. 81 b. Arteries … by their heat helpyng to the exact elaboration of his bloud.

1677.  W. Harris, trans. Lemery’s Course Chym., I. xx. (1686), 442. Milk is a chyle which … has received but a light Elaboration.

1725.  Bradley, Fam. Dict., II. s.v. Vegetables, There happen different Fermentations and other Elaborations amongst the sensible parts.

1858.  Carpenter, Veg. Phys., § 220. In this process of Elaboration … the most important change is the concentration of the fluid.

  3.  concr. in various senses.

1765.  Univ. Mag., XXXVII. 235/1. This spirit is a last elaboration.

1856.  Dove, Logic Chr. Faith, IV. ii. § 1. 177. Science is an elaboration, an achievement, an acquisition.

1879.  Cassell’s Techn. Educ., I. 200/1. Fig. 138 is a further elaboration of the same design, the lines being doubled.