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Taka Posted 16 years ago
Grammar
Finest
If you have been brought up on the printed page, it is disconcerting to realize that a scribbled scrap of paper may tell you more about the author you thought you knew than the finest or most elaborate printed edition.
The book I have interprets 'the finest' in bold as 'the best' or 'the most wonderful', but is it really so?
I'm not sure but to me it seems like it's semantically much closer to 'the most detailed' or something like that.
The book I have interprets 'the finest' in bold as 'the best' or 'the most wonderful', but is it really so?
I'm not sure but to me it seems like it's semantically much closer to 'the most detailed' or something like that.
Top answer
Yes, I think 'nicest/best' is a good match.
- Yes, I think 'nicest/best' is a good match.
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10 Answers
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But it's coupled with 'the most elaborate'. Still you think it means 'the best', MM?
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Yes. Elaborate means 'marked by complexity, fullness of detail, or ornateness'. An author's book contains the same words no matter how fine or elaborate the edition.
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Right. So I thought 'the finest' used in that sentence was about detail or complexity and semantically close to 'the most detailed'.
You don't really think 'the most elaborate' is used there as a word similar to 'the finest', MM?
You don't really think 'the most elaborate' is used there as a word similar to 'the finest', MM?
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I've answered this thread twice already. Maybe someone else will give you the answer you want.
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Hi Taka
Something can be fine (high quality) without necessarily being elaborate. For example, some of the finest leather coats are quite simple in design.
Something can be fine (high quality) without necessarily being elaborate. For example, some of the finest leather coats are quite simple in design.
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So even when combined with 'elaborate', to you the word 'fine' won't associate with anything related to elaboration, Amy?
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The word elaborate suggests complexity and/or a lot of details, and it would generally be easy to see/notice each of the details -- you might easily be able to list them one by one.
As I said, something that is fine may well be extremely simple. In other words, there may be a single quality that makes something fine. In the case of the leather coat, it may be the high quality of the leat
As I said, something that is fine may well be extremely simple. In other words, there may be a single quality that makes something fine. In the case of the leather coat, it may be the high quality of the leat
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So no matter what it is collocated with, the word 'fine' won't be associated with elaboration. I see.
Thanks, Amy!
Thanks, Amy!
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