Adorn
to decorate or add beauty to, as by ornaments:
garlands of flowers adorning their hair.
to make more pleasing, attractive, impressive, etc.; enhance:
Piety adorned Abigail’s character.
Contemporary Examples
His imagery does more than adorn; it also helps swiftly clinch a character for the reader.
True Grit: Ross Macdonald Gets His Due Malcolm Forbes August 6, 2012
The chances that portraits of Daud and Saleh al-Kuwaiti will ever adorn a 200-shekel bill seem slim.
For My Money, I’ll Take the Al-Kuwaitis Gershom Gorenberg May 5, 2013
Historical Examples
At last they were permitted to be beautiful once more, to smile, and to adorn themselves.
The Usurper Judith Gautier
In his present mood he was inclined to adorn himself with as many of them as possible.
A Spirit in Prison Robert Hichens
The nine fine engravings which adorn the Voyage to Terra Australis are his work.
The Life of Captain Matthew Flinders Ernest Scott
Because,” said they, “of the noble qualities that adorn your mind.
Boys and Girls Bookshelf (Vol 2 of 17) Various
He was now collecting masterpieces of the Spanish school of painting, which were destined to adorn the saloons of the Tuileries.
The Bible in Spain George Borrow
I have not one of the graceful accomplishments that adorn society.
Davenport Dunn, Volume 1 (of 2) Charles James Lever
In fact, Mr. Welby was one of those brilliant persons who adorn any society amidst which they are thrown.
Kenelm Chillingly, Complete Edward Bulwer-Lytton
The lamps are put in long rows or in circles, to fit the places they adorn.
The Soul of a People H. Fielding
verb (transitive)
to decorate: she adorned her hair with flowers
to increase the beauty, distinction, etc, of
v.
late 14c., “to decorate, embellish,” also “be an ornament to,” from Old French aorner “to order, arrange, dispose, equip; adorn,” from Latin adornare “equip, provide, embellish,” from ad- “to” (see ad-) + ornare “prepare, furnish, adorn, fit out,” from stem of ordo “order” (see order (n.)). The -d- was reinserted by French scribes 14c., in English from late 15c. Related: Adorned; adorning.
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something that adds attractiveness; ornament; accessory: the adornments and furnishings of a room. ornamentation; embellishment: personal adornment. Contemporary Examples Everything was just so very big — and with adornment to boot. Fashion Week Dispatch: Jason Wu and Rag and Bone Erin Cunningham February 7, 2014 The trend for adornment amongst Middle Eastern women is nothing […]
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relief ornament applied to a piece. Contemporary Examples Alexander and adorno were doing what they could to save the officer on the passenger side, Liu. ‘Please Don’t Die!’: The Frantic Battle to Save Murdered Cops Michael Daly December 21, 2014 noun Theodor Wiesengrund. 1903–69, German philosopher, sociologist, and music critic. His writings include The Philosophy […]
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a river in SW France, flowing N from the Pyrenees and then W to the Bay of Biscay. 210 miles (338 km) long. Historical Examples To a job-master’s in the city by the Adour I was recommended as the most likely place to procure a steed. Romantic Spain John Augustus O’Shea It comprises the secondary […]
- Adours
a river in SW France, flowing N from the Pyrenees and then W to the Bay of Biscay. 210 miles (338 km) long.