Back to all words

Vignette

2 stages from French to English.

Today it means a short, evocative piece of writing, or a small decorative illustration
1
Stage 1 of 2
vigne
French · medieval
"a vine"
a vine, since early decorative borders were designed with vine-leaf patterns
2
Stage 2 of 2
vignette
English · 1700s
"a short, evocative descriptive scene or sketch"
broadened from a decorative border to a short, evocative literary sketch
Drag to pan · scroll to zoom