vignette

[ vin-yet ]

noun

1. a decorative design or small illustration used on the title page of a book or at the beginning or end of a chapter.
2. an engraving, drawing, photograph, or the like that is shaded off gradually at the edges so as to leave no definite line at the border.
3. a decorative design representing branches, leaves, grapes, or the like, as in a manuscript.
4. any small, pleasing picture or view.
5. a small, graceful literary sketch.

verb (used with object)

, vi·gnet·ted, vi·gnet·ting.

1. Photography. to finish (a picture, photograph, etc.) in the manner of a vignette.

vignette

/ vɪˈnjɛt /

noun

1. a small illustration placed at the beginning or end of a book or chapter
2. a short graceful literary essay or sketch
3. a photograph, drawing, etc, with edges that are shaded off
4. architect a carved ornamentation that has a design based upon tendrils, leaves, etc
5. any small endearing scene, view, picture, etc

verb

1. to finish (a photograph, picture, etc) with a fading border in the form of a vignette
2. 1. to decorate with vignettes
   2. to portray in or as in a vignette

Derived Forms

• viˈgnettist, noun

Other Words From

• vi·gnettist noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of vignette¹

1745–55; < French: literally, little vine ( vine, -ette ); so called from vinelike decorations in early books

Word History and Origins

Origin of vignette¹

C18: from French, literally: little vine, from vigne vine ; with reference to the vine motif frequently used in embellishments to a text

Example Sentences

The healthcare vignette provides us a textbook example of how the GOP has retreated into policy fantasyland.

From The Daily Beast

The costumes and settings are worthy of a full-length feature, and the creepy possessiveness of the song adds to the vignette.

From The Daily Beast

Rereading that review I linked to above, I opened it with a vignette that is still clear as a bell in my mind's eye.

From The Daily Beast

In the second act, a trio of ballet dancers from the New York City Ballet will appear in a vignette dedicated to cotton candy.

From The Daily Beast

Yet another vignette has the Hope-wrapped Bündchen breaking the news that the mother-in-law is moving in.

From The Daily Beast

The magazines sketch us a lively article, the newspapers vignette us, step by step, a royal tour.

From Project Gutenberg

In memory of the late lamented general the present five-peso bank notes bear his vignette.

From Project Gutenberg

See also the vignette on title page, copied from an alabaster slab in the Collegio Romano, originally from the Catacombs.

From Project Gutenberg

He inquired in what style I wished to be taken, whether full-length, half-length, or vignette. '

From Project Gutenberg

In some instances they partake much more of the character of a vignette than a tradesmans mark.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• scenario
• scene
• sketch