Main entry: Detail
Noun
Plural: details
Pronunciation and accent: dɪteɪl, or diːteɪl
Etymology: from French détail (= action of detailing; piece cut off; detail), and this one from détailler (= to cut in pieces; tell in detail), which is analysable into de- (from Latin dis- apart, to pieces) + taillier (= to cut)
First definition: a manner of writing or speaking detailedly (circumstantially, part by part); a manner of particularizing a subject or theme, as if by cutting in several parts
It may be translated by en detalle, in Spanish; en détail, in French; in dettaglio, in Italian.
***It is only found in the phrase IN DETAIL: part by part; minutely; in subdivisions; item by item; circumstantially; with particularity
Having thus explained and introduced our subject at large, we are now prepared to treat it in detail.
The Family Magazine, vol. 1
[…] all these subjects are gracefully illustrated, not only from the writers who have treated them in detail, but also from the contemporary historians.
The Dublin Review, vol. 23-24
On the way to Botzen a part of the low ground is occupied by marsh; the scenery, however, is still most beautiful, […] with picturesque castles too numerous to mention in detail.
John Murray (…Southern Germany)
Practical experience on the subject, has enabled the author to mention, in detail, the vegetable staples, their prices and usual mart of sale.
William Darby (The emigrant's guide…)
Second definition: a detailed narrative; a relation, statement, etc., constituted by particulars or subordinate parts
Antonyms: brief, summary, synopsis, compendium, abridgement, abstract
To exhibit a chronological detail of European discoveries in those distant parts of the globe, would be uninteresting to most readers.
James Playfair (A System of Geography)
[…] he wrote a detail of his voyage.
Alexander Chalmers (The General Biographical Dictionary)
During the time that I spent in Denmark, I had no thoughts of writing a detail of my experiences there. Hence, no preparations were made by me—no materials collected.
Andrew Hamilton (Sixteen Months in the Danish Isles)
An historical detail of the interesting events.
John Talbot (History of North America)
"In your detail of the vision which presented itself to you amid the hills, you have described, with the minutest accuracy, the Indian city of Benares.
Edgar Poe
He felt that uninteresting detail is the result of abstract method, and he avoids it in his geography.
Conrad Malte-Brun (A System of Universal Geography)
Third definition: a part or subordinate portion of a whole (or assemblage, complex, etc.), considered, or treated independently, without actual division.
Antonyms: whole
Synonyms: particular, part, portion
It may be translated by detalle, in Spanish; détail, in French; dettaglio, in Italian.
A recent work by Dr. Turner […] has been of great utility. […] many of its details have been adopted.
Benjamin Silliman (Elements of chemistry)
[…] the business is very simple indeed, and I make no doubt that we can manage it sufficiently well ourselves; but then I thought Dupin would like to hear the details of it, because it is so excessively odd.
Edgar Poe
I have said that I minutely remember the details of the chamber.
Edgar Poe
I did not stay to listen to the details of their petition, for I am unable to command myself on such occasions.
Frances Kemble (… a Georgian Plantation)
Among various details of the condition of the people on the several estates in the island, he told me that a great number of the men on all the different plantations had _wives_ on the neighbouring estates, as well as on that to which they properly belonged.
Frances Kemble (… a Georgian Plantation)
In the manuscript, items of conversation, and numerous details of the behaviour of myself and female partners in my amours, were written down just as they occurred.
Walter (My secret Life)
After hearing all she had done at home even to domestic details — which she was fond of telling as showing her domestic comfort, — lust and love in all its whims and varieties we talked about.
Walter (My secret Life)
[…] their canopies are nearly alike, the difference being only in the detail of the ornaments. The pedestals intended to sustain the figures are remarkably elegant.
Thomas Moule (Winkles's Architectural)
There are some particulars worthy of notice in the detail of this facade.
The Gentleman's Magazine, vol. 138
It was possible, I reflected, that a mere different arrangement of the particulars of the scene, of the details of the picture, would be sufficient to modify, or perhaps to annihilate its capacity for sorrowful impression.
Edgar Poe
