Crossword clues for filigree
filigree
Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
The Collaborative International Dictionary
Filigree \Fil"i*gree\, n. [Corrupted fr. filigrane.] Ornamental work, formerly with grains or breads, but now composed of fine wire and used chiefly in decorating gold and silver to which the wire is soldered, being arranged in designs frequently of a delicate and intricate arabesque pattern.
Filigree \Fil"i*gree\, a. Relating to, composed of, or resembling, work in filigree; as, a filigree basket. Hence: Fanciful; unsubstantial; merely decorative.
You ask for reality, not fiction and filigree work.
--J. C.
Shairp.
Douglas Harper's Etymology Dictionary
Wiktionary
alt. 1 A delicate and intricate ornamentation made from gold or silver (or sometimes other metal) twisted wire. 2 A design resembling such intricate ornamentation. n. 1 A delicate and intricate ornamentation made from gold or silver (or sometimes other metal) twisted wire. 2 A design resembling such intricate ornamentation. vb. (context transitive English) To decorate something with intricate ornamentation made from gold or silver twisted wire.
WordNet
Wikipedia
Filigree (also less commonly spelled filagree, and formerly written filigrann or filigrene) is a delicate kind of jewellery metalwork, usually of gold and silver, made with tiny beads or twisted threads, or both in combination, soldered together or to the surface of an object of the same metal and arranged in artistic motifs. It often suggests lace and remains popular in Indian and other Asian metalwork. It was popular as well in Italian and French metalwork from 1660 to the late 19th century. It should not be confused with ajoure jewellery work, the ajoure technique consisting of drilling holes in objects made of sheet metal.
The English word filigree is shortened from the earlier use of filigreen which derives from Latin "filum" meaning thread and "granum" grain, in the sense of small bead. The Latin words gave filigrana in Italian which itself became filigrane in 17th-century French.
Usage examples of "filigree".
We saw her in fantastic dresses of silk and lace, edged with turquoise filigree, white gowns, and yellow hats, waving a fan of blue feathers, with expensive bangles of silver and gold weighing her arms, and necklaces of pearl and jade round her neck.
She appeared in brilliant silken blues, bare breasted, the platinum filigree of mask inlaid upon the noble cicatrice carved into her face.
I was still dressed like a demarch on a state visit, in silk satin and ivory filigree, demarchic signet and the collar with the steel circles.
Her hair is a thousand coils and dreadlocks of red and black pinned up over silver filigree earrings.
He had thus sent me gold and silver filigrees from Damascus, portfolios, scarfs, belts, handkerchiefs and pipes, the whole worth four or five hundred piasters.
A glass case displayed ivory netsuke, a comb and brush set of mother-of-pearl, earrings of black pearl and golden filigree, everything a little chipped, a little shabby, and over it all reigned thin, dyspeptic Agawa at the counter with an abacus, ashtray and pack of Golden Bats.
The quillons were worked in a silver filigree that spoke of antiquity, and the ricasso was scribed with calligraphy that formed no words he had ever seen before.
He actually did pride himself on the vast compendium of notes, marginalia, filigree of thought.
It was definitely charming, with its little decks and odd outcurving windows and its mitre-saw filigree decorations along the roofline.
Later he saw an overturned garbage can with a filigree of fish bones ornamenting the particoloured heap.
The building had a high facade, broken by four large windows, each of which had its two blinds of patined bronze filigree, and each overlooked a small balcony.
The Factotum was ever alert, feeding Quath a torrent of data, all encoded in hormonal tangs and filigrees.
It was merely one filigree in a chain that arched for 200,000 kilometers over a sunspot group below.
Mage went with him as far as the pool, with its water like a drift of pale smoke and its roiling surface aglimmer with a filigree of moonlight.
He looks very small against the massive filigree of the birdcage, a white plastic spaceman doll floating in front of a shifting, faceted fretwork of spun glass.