designslinger - Word of the Week: daedal

 
[daedal, Fitted chest with floral and grape-leaf motif (19th century) India, Art Institute of Chicago /Image & Artwork: designslinger]

daedal (DEED-l) adj. intricate in design or function,

 
[daedal, Window screen {Mashrabiyya} (17th/18th century) Morocco, Art Institute of Chicago /Image & Artwork: designslinger]

finely or skillfully made or employed; artistic.

 
[daedal, Tile with double-arched prayer niche (19th century) Iran, probably Karshan; Architectural relief panel with foliage design (12th century) Afghanistan, Art Institute of Chicago /Images & Artwork: designslinger]

from the Latin, daedalus; Greek, daidalos.
Posted by designslinger at 11/4/2009 2:30 AM
Categories: Dictionary
Tags: definition
 

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  • 1/13/2010 10:26 AM Carlos Lorenzo wrote:
    Intricate, elaborate in design indeed. Thanks for teaching new words. I wonder why dedo (finger) dedal (thimble) resemble daedalus. I read now that original Greek Daidalos (Δαίδαλος) means "cunning worker" so maybe all has to do with crafts, hands and fingers. Interesting!
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    1. 1/14/2010 4:40 AM designslinger wrote:
      I'm continually amazed at the number of words we still have in our language that had their origins in ancient Greece. Love the "cunning worker" connection with this one.



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