First Known Use: 1611
Dictionary
1vignette
noun vi·gnette \vin-ˈyet, vēn-\
: a short written description
: a short scene in a movie or play
: a picture or engraving in a book
Full Definition of VIGNETTE
1
: a running ornament (as of vine leaves, tendrils, and grapes) put on or just before a title page or at the beginning or end of a chapter; also : a small decorative design or picture so placed
2
a : a picture (as an engraving or photograph) that shades off gradually into the surrounding paper b : the pictorial part of a postage stamp design as distinguished from the frame and lettering
3
a : a short descriptive literary sketch b : a brief incident or scene (as in a play or movie)
— vi·gnett·ist \-ˈye-tist\ noun
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Origin of VIGNETTE
French, from Middle French vignete, from diminutive of vigne vine — more at vine
Related to VIGNETTE
- Synonyms
- definition, delineation, depiction, picture, portrait, portraiture, portrayal, rendering, sketch, description
Other Performing Arts Terms
Rhymes with VIGNETTE
abet, aigrette, all wet, backset, baguette, banquette, barbette, barquette, barrette, beget, beset, blanquette, boneset, brevet, briquette, brochette, brunet, burette, burnet, cadet, cassette, cermet, Colette, coquet, coquette, cornet, corselet, corvette, coset, courgette, croquette, curette, curvet, cuvette, dinette, dip net, diskette, dragnet, duet, egret, fan-jet, fishnet, fly net, forget, gazette, georgette, Gillette, gillnet, gill net, godet, grisette, handset, hard-set, headset, ink-jet, inlet, inset, jet set, Juliet, kismet, layette, life net, lorgnette, lunette, maquette, Marquette, mind-set, mist net, moonset, moquette, motet, musette, nerve net, noisette, nonet, nymphet, octet, offset, onset, outlet, outset, paillette, pallette, palmette, pipette, piquet, planchette, pound net, poussette, preset, quartet, quickset, quintet, raclette, ramet, ramjet, regret, reset, revet, rocket, roomette, rosette, roulette, saw set, septet, sestet, sextet, sharp-set, soubrette, spinet, stage set, stylet, sublet, subset, sunset, syrette, tea set, thickset, Tibet, toilette, tonette, trijet, twinset, typeset, Undset, unset, upset, vedette, well-set
2vignette
verb
vi·gnett·edvi·gnett·ing
Definition of VIGNETTE
transitive verb
1
: to finish (as a photograph) like a vignette
2
: to describe briefly
— vi·gnett·er noun
First Known Use of VIGNETTE
1853
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