highly-wrought

But no one was ever sure what to believe about him; the Dictionary of American Biography notes of his life-story that it is "fact ... liberally intermixed with highly-wrought fiction".

Isabelle Estelle Bruno 2010

They come as dulcet surprises and mostly recur in highly-wrought situations, or they are used to convey a vivid sense of something exquisite in nature or art.

The Book of The Thousand Nights And A Night 2006

A rocking to and fro on the waves, when the breeze is not too violent and cold, produces a soothing effect even upon the most highly-wrought mind.

A Pair of Blue Eyes 2006

Instead of the equally diffused grace and ease of the earlier dialogues there occur two or three highly-wrought passages; instead of the ever-flowing play of humour, now appearing, now concealed, but always present, are inserted a good many bad jests, as we may venture to term them.

Philebus 2006

A highly-wrought moral strain would he knew well create either disgust or ridicule.

Phineas Redux 2004

With highly-wrought expectations, Agnes followed her friend into the room in which Mrs. Rolland was waiting.

The Haunted Hotel 2003

She was still in a state of highly-wrought impressionability, and every hint of the past sent a lingering tremor along her nerves.

The House of Mirth Edith Wharton 1987

She was still in a state of highly-wrought impressionability, and every hint of the past sent a lingering tremor along her nerves.

The House of Mirth Edith Wharton 1987

She was still in a state of highly-wrought impressionability, and every hint of the past sent a lingering tremor along her nerves.

The House of Mirth Edith Wharton 1987

But no one was ever sure what to believe about him; the Dictionary of American Biography notes of his life-story that it is "fact … liberally intermixed with highly-wrought fiction".

Flashman and The Redskins Fraser, George MacDonald, 1925- 1982