[f. L. ēlabōrāt- ppl. stem of ēlabōrāre to work out, produce by labor, f. ē out + labōrāre to LABOUR.
Sense 2 may probably be the earliest in Eng. from the use of the L. word by writers on alchemy or medicine. Cf. Fr. élaborer, 16th c. (Littré) = sense 2.]
1. To produce or develop by the application of labor; to fashion (a product of art or industry) from the raw material; to work out in detail, give finish or completeness to (an invention, a theory, literary or artistic work, etc.).
1611. Cotgr., Elabourer. To elaborate.
1626. Cockeram, Elaborate,y to do a thing with great paines.
1726. Young, Love Fame, Wks. (1866), II. 96. Attend, and you discern it [ambition] in the fair Conduct a finger, Or, in full joy, elaborate a sigh.
1846. Ruskin, Mod. Paint. (1848), I. II. I. vii. § 12. 85. The objects of landscape may be either elaborated or suggested according to their place and claim.
1850. Gladstone, Glean., V. cx. 237–8. The constitutional system, which was in course of being gradually elaborated and matured in England.
1865. Lecky, Ration. (1878), II. v. 199. He elaborates his theory from his own reason.
1875. Jowett, Plato (ed. 2), III. 390. Little things are elaborated with an infinity of pains.
2. transf. Of nature or natural agencies: To produce (a chemical substance) from (its) elements or sources; to fashion or develop (an animal or vegetable tissue, etc.); also, to transmute (crude materials) into a developed product.
1607. Walkington, Opt. Glass, 27 b–28. Nothing elaborates our concoction more then sleepe.
1665–9. Boyle, Occas. Refl. (1675), 65. Honey … is elaborated by the Bee.
1671. J. Webster, Metallogr., iv. 81. If the waters be saltish, pure and clear,… then a pure Metal is generated; but in defect of purity an Impure Metal, in elaborating of which, Nature spreadeth … a thousand years.
1744. Berkeley, Siris, § 87. 42. The animal spirits are elaborated from the blood.
1828. Steuart, Planter’s G., 211. As well might it be imagined, that the roots … elaborate it [the sap] in the leaves.
1834. Southey, Doctor, lxxvi. (1862), 161. The Sun, under whose influence one plant elaborates nutriment for man and another poison.
1870. H. Macmillan, Bible Teach., x. 194. Year after year … the leaf is elaborating from air and rain and sunshine … those solid structures which are destined to outlive it.
