Vignette
/vɪnˈjɛt/Definition, CEFR level C1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
Listen pronunciation
Definition
nounA running ornament consisting of leaves and tendrils, used in Gothic architecture.
nounA decorative design, originally representing vine branches or tendrils, at the head of a chapter, of a manuscript or printed book, or in a similar position.
Sentence Examples
Each vignette adds something distinct to the film.
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms:
Antonyms:
None
CEFR Practice Quiz
The author wrote a short ____ describing a typical morning in the village.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The novel is a series of short ____ that provide a vivid picture of life in a small village during the last century today.
Word Origin & History
First attested in 1751. From French vignette, diminutive of vigne (“vine”), from Latin vīnea, from vīnum (“wine”). Replaced earlier Middle English vynet.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"The centrality of this particular trope can been seen in the vignette adorning the opening page of Denis Diderot and Jean le Rond d'Alembert's Encyclopédie, ou dictionnaire raisonnée des sciences, des arts et des métiers (1751–1752)."
— 2011, William Burgwinkle, Nicholas Hammond, Emma Wilson, The Cambridge History of French Literature, Cambridge University Press, →ISBN, page 420:
"A particular classroom incident, and the vignette I used to portray it, had a significant impact on the interpretative framework for my research into scientific literacy."
— 2007, Peter Charles Taylor, John Wallace, Contemporary Qualitative Research, Springer Science & Business Media, →ISBN, page 126:
"I have two favourite vignettes from the voting lobbies on Wednesday night. The first is the news that one minister told the Tory chief whip, Julian Smith: “You don’t know what you’re doing,” to which Smith replied, “I do know what I’m doing”."
— 2019 March 1, Marina Hyde, “Chris Grayling is the Berk du Soleil as Farage maps out a road to nowhere”, in The Guardian:
"At the top of the stamp and centered slightly to the right is the wording, “U. S. Postage,” in white Gothic. Below the vignette are the words, “Little White House,” in quotations, with “Warm Springs,” centered directly below in dark Gothic, […]"
— 1967, Postage Stamps of the United States, U.S. Government Printing Office:
"Liz Brent, broker at Go Brent in Maryland and Washington, DC, said she’s spent the past few months changing how she presents properties by emphasizing photographs, 3-D tours, and video vignettes for homes online."
— 2020 June 12, Anna Bahney, “The new rules of buying and selling a house in a coronavirus world”, in CNN Business:
Explore More C1 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
The author wrote a short ____ describing a typical morning in the village.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The novel is a series of short ____ that provide a vivid picture of life in a small village during the last century today.