ἑτέρως ἠδύνατο βέλτιον ἢ ὡς νῦν ἔχει κατεσκευάσθαι → otherwise they could have been constructed better than they are now (Galen, On the use of parts of the body 4.143.1 Kühn)
(see also: κομψεύω) play on, refine upon a word or thought