vignette

¹vi·gnette

noun \vin-ˈyet, vēn-\

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

Examples of VIGNETTE

1. The play's program features a little vignette about each member of the cast.
2. The film is a series of vignettes about living with cancer.

Origin of VIGNETTE

French, from Middle French vignete, from diminutive of vigne vine — more at vine

First Known Use: 1611

Related to VIGNETTE

Synonyms

definition, delineation, depiction, picture, portrait, portraiture, portrayal, rendering, sketch, description

Related Words

account, anecdote, chronicle, narrative, report, story, tale, yarn; demonstration, exemplification, illustration; clarification, elucidation, explanation, explication, exposition

Other Performing Arts Terms

diva, dramaturgy, loge, prestidigitation, proscenium, supernumerary, zany

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

transitive verb

vi·gnett·edvi·gnett·ing

Definition of VIGNETTE

1

: to finish (as a photograph) like a vignette

2

: to describe briefly

— vi·gnett·er noun

First Known Use of VIGNETTE

1853