Elaboration of an interpretation by the use of decorative (sometimes fictitious) detail:
— The mystery has been heightened by many embellishments in subsequent retellings.

synonym: embroidery.

Roget 847: ornament, ornamentation, ornamental art; ornature^†, ornateness; adornment, decoration, embellishment; architecture; jewelry etc. 847.1. [surface coatings for wood: list] garnish, polish, varnish, French polish, veneer, japanning, lacquer.    [surface coatings for metal] gilding, plating, ormolu, enamel, cloisonn_e.    [surface coatings for human skin] cosmetics (in general), makeup; [Makeup list], eye shadow, rouge, face powder, lipstick, blush.    [ornamental surface pattern: list] pattern, diaper, powdering, paneling, graining, pargeting^†; detail; repousse (convexity) 250; texture etc. 329; richness; tracery, molding, fillet, listel^†, strapwork^†, coquillage [Fr.], flourish, fleur-de-lis [Fr.], arabesque, fret, anthemion^†; egg and tongue, egg and dart; astragal^†, zigzag, acanthus, cartouche; pilaster etc. (projection) 250; bead, beading; champleve ware [Fr.], cloisonne ware; frost work, Moresque [Lat.], Morisco, tooling.    [ornamental cloth] embroidery; brocade, brocatelle^†, galloon, lace, fringe, trapping, border, edging, trimming; hanging, tapestry, arras; millinery, ermine; drap d'or [Fr.].    wreath, festoon, garland, chaplet, flower, nosegay, bouquet, posy, daisies pied and violets blue," tassel, [Love's Labor's Lost], knot; shoulder knot, apaulette^†, epaulet, aigulet^†, frog; star, rosette, bow; feather, plume, pompom^†, panache, aigrette.    finery, frippery, gewgaw, gimcrack, tinsel, spangle, clinquant^†, pinchbeck, paste; excess of ornament etc. (vulgarity) 851; gaud, pride.    [ornamentation of text] illustration, illumination, vignette.    fleuron^†; head piece [Fr.], tail piece [Fr.]; cul-de-lampe [Fr.]; flowers of rhetoric etc. 577; work of art.    ... show more

Polish: upiększenie

A superfluous ornament.

The act of adding extraneous decorations to something.

synonym: ornamentation.