well-turned

[ wel-turnd ]

adjective

1. gracefully shaped:

   a well-turned ankle.

2. gracefully and concisely expressed:

   a well-turned phrase.

well-turned

adjective

1. (of a phrase, speech, etc) apt and pleasingly sonorous
2. having a pleasing shape

   a well-turned leg

Word History and Origins

Origin of well-turned¹

First recorded in 1610–20

Example Sentences

As adult as “Good Grief” sometimes feels, it also plays a tad thinly, plotted without too much attention paid to what makes sense, or what might warrant richer exploration beyond a well-turned line.

From Los Angeles Times

Taken on its own terms and not as an adaptation,”The Buccaneers” is a well-turned object, pretty to look at and evidently expensive.

From Los Angeles Times

The story of Elizabeth’s wealth has the fine-grain detail of a Richard Powers novel, and Jack’s background in Kansas is a well-turned tale of pathos, familial cruelty and the brutal heartland landscape.

From Los Angeles Times

"For his part, Depp delivers his lines in well-turned French, wearing fine powder and a stiff white wig, and yet he seems strangely uncomfortable in the role - adequate but not especially engaged," he added.

From BBC

It seemed, even, like every blistering high note, well-turned melisma and swooning falsetto note was greeted with hums of approval and the occasional shout of “C’mon!”

From New York Times

Related Words

• comely
• curvaceous
• elegant
• graceful
• pleasing
• rounded