Copyright © Philip M. Parker, INSEAD. Terms of Use.
Definitions: Embellishment |
EmbellishmentNoun1. Elaboration of an interpretation by the use of decorative (sometimes fictitious) detail; "the mystery has been heightened by many embellishments in subsequent retellings". 2. A superfluous ornament. 3. The act of adding extraneous decorations to something. Source: WordNet 1.7.1 Copyright © 2001 by Princeton University. All rights reserved. |
Date "embellishment" was first used in popular English literature: sometime before 1615. (references) |
Etymology: Embellishment \Em*bel"lish*ment\, noun. [Compare to the French expression embellissement.]. (Websters 1913) |
Synonyms: EmbellishmentSynonyms: embroidery (n), ornamentation (n). (additional references) |
| Context | Synonyms within Context (source: adapted from Roget's Thesaurus). |
Ornament | Noun: ornament, ornamentation, ornamental art; ornature, ornateness; adornment, decoration, embellishment; architecture; jewelry; a. |
| Source: adapted from Roget's Thesaurus. | |
Crosswords: Embellishment |
| English words defined with "embellishment": Disembellish ♦ Exornation ♦ festoon, flourish ♦ Garnishment, Garniture ♦ literal ♦ Melisma, Mordente ♦ plain, plainly ♦ simply ♦ unembellished, unornamented. (references) |
| Domain | Title |
Books |
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Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits. | |
| "Embellishment" is generally used as a noun (singular) -- approximately 100.00% of the time. "Embellishment" is used about 65 times out of a sample of 100 million words spoken or written in English. Its rank is based on over 700,000 words used in the English language. Some parts-of-speech are not covered due to the samples used by the British National Corpus. (note: percents less than one-hundredth of one percent have been omitted) |
| Parts of Speech | Percent | Usage per 100 Million Words | Rank in English |
| Noun (singular) | 100% | 65 | 41,645 |
Source: compiled by the editor from several corpora; see credits.
| Hypenated Usage | |
Ending with "embellishment": over-embellishment. | |
| Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits. | |
| The following statistics estimate the number of searches per day across the major English-language search engines as identified by various trade publications. Hyperlinks lead to commercial use of the expression at Amazon.com. |
| Language | Translations for "embellishment"; alternative meanings/domain in parentheses. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Albanian | zbukurim (adornment, beautifying, decoration, embroidery, enrichment, fallal, festoon, finery, flower, garnish, garniture, glorification, inlay, marquetry, onlay, ornament, ornamentation, rosace, set off, titivation), stolisje (decking, decoration, ornamentation), garniturë (decoration, garnish, garniture, onlay, served vegetables). (various references) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Arabic | تزيين (adornment, decoration, garland, ornament, ornamentation, tooling), زينة (adornment, garnish, gaud, ornament, pompon, topping, trimming), زخرفة (adornment, blazonry, decor, decoration, embroidery, enrichment, fussiness, garniture, illustration, ornament, ornamentation, ornateness, scenery, scroll), زخرف (adorn, bedeck, deck, decorate, do, embellish, emboss, embroider, enrich, flourish, garnish, grace, illuminate, illustrate, lard, ornament, ornamentation, string, trace, trick, trick out, trick up, trim). (various references) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Bulgarian | украсяване (adornment, decoration, embroidery, ornamentation, titivation), украса (adornment, decking, decoration, dressing, embroidery, flower, fretwork, gilding, ornament, set off, trappings), разкрасяване. (various references) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Chinese | 点缀. (various references) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Czech | výzdoba (decoration, ornamentation). (various references) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Finnish | sievistely (affectation), kaunistus (adornment). (various references) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
French | embellissement. (various references) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
German | verschönerung (beautification, brightening up, improvement, titivation). (various references) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Greek | καλλωπισμόσ (beautification, ornateness, toilet, toilette), εξωραϊσμόσ. (various references) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Hebrew | יפוי (adornment, beautification), פרכוס (adornment, decoration, make up), עטור (adorned, coronation, crowned, crowning, embellished, garnished, illustration, medal, ornament, ornamented), "שבח" (amelioration, betterment, improvement), ""ור (adorned, adornment, elegance, elegant, finery, glorious, honouring, luxe, ornamentation, splendid). (various references) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Hungarian | feldíszítés (decoration), díszítés (adornment, décor, decoration, enrichment, fancywork, fantasy, ornament, ornamentation, piping), ékítmény (quirk, vignette). (various references) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Indonesian | perhiasan (array, ornament, ornamentation), hiasan (decor, decoration, garnish). (various references) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Italian | abbellimento (adornment, décor, titivation). (various references) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Japanese Kanji | 修飾 (adornment, decoration, modification, ornamentation, polish up). (various references) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Japanese Katakana | しゅうしょく (adornment, autumn scenery, decoration, finding employment, inauguration, modification, ornamentation, polish up, worried look), ふ"しょく (makeup, powdered food, toilet). (various references) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Manx | skeoghys, jesheenys (decor, decoration, finery, ornamentation, trimmings). (various references) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Pig Latin | embellishmentay enfeite (anklet, broidery, caparison, decking, dressing, fallals, finery, garnish, garniture, Gill, lapel, offset, ornament, ornate, pretty, trimming), enfeitar (apparel, bejewel, caparison, deck, frill, garnish, groom, ornament, perk, prank, prettily, primp, set out, sugar coat, titivate, tog oneself up), embelezamento (decoration, figurative, ornamentation). (various references) décor (background, décor, decoration, landscape, mise en scene, ornament, scene, scenery, sets), înfrumuseţare (adornment, beautification, cosmetology, enrichment, glorification). (various references) украшение (adorner, adornment, beautification, decoration, fallal, fal-lal, garnish, knick knack, molding, moulding, ornament, ornamentation, prettification, set off, trim), приукрашивание. (various references) ulepšavanje (beautification). (various references) embellecimiento (beautification, improvement, prettification). (various references) utsmyckning (decoration, onlay, ornament, ornamentation, trappings, trimmings), utsmyckande, utbroderande, figuration (figuration), försköning (adornment). (various references) เครื่องตกแต่ง (garnish), การตกแต่ง. (various references) süsleme (adornment, décor, decoration, enrichment, figuration, grace, grace note, ornament, ornamentation, trim, trimming), süs (adornment, apparel, attire, decoration, embroidery, encrustation, enrichment, facings, falbala, falbelo, fancy, finery, flamboyance, flourish, flower, frill, frippery, garnish, garnishment, garniture, get up, make up, ornament, ornamental, ornamentation, scrimshaw, setoff, setout, trim, trimming), renklendirme (coloration, coloring, colouring, staining, toning), abartma (aggrandizement, come now, exaggeration, hyperbole, overcharge, turgescence). (various references) юaя (adornment, decoration). (various references) прикраса (adornment, apparel, attire, beauty, bijou, decking, decoration, embroidery, fallal, garnish, garniture, Nick nack, ornament, outset, pretty, quip, set off), прикрашання (beautification, dressing, enrichment, ornament, ornamentation, paint, trimming), перебільшення (aggravation, exaggeration, hyperbole, outrance, overstatement, stretching, whisker). (various references) sự trang điểm, sự tô son điểm phấn sự thêm thắt, sự l m đẹp. (various references) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Language | Period | Translations |
| Latin | 500 BCE-Modern | ornamentum, ornatus. (various references) |
| Source: compiled by the editor from various references. | ||
Derivations | |
Words beginning with "embellishment": embellishments. (additional references) | |
Words ending with "embellishment": overembellishment. (additional references) | |
Words containing "embellishment": overembellishments. (additional references) | |
| |
"Embellishment" is suggested in spellcheckers for the following: ambellishment, embelishment, embellishmeny. (additional references) | |
| Source: compiled by the editor, based on several corpora (additional references). | |
| # of Phoneme Matches | Pronunciation | Word(s) rhyming with "embellishment" (pronounced embe"lishmunt) |
| 7 | -l i sh m u n t | accomplishment, disestablishment, establishment. |
| 6 | -i sh m u n t | astonishment, banishment, blandishment, diminishment, extinguishment, garnishment, impoverishment, nourishment, punishment, refurbishment, replenishment. |
| 5 | -sh m u n t | refreshment. |
| 4 | -m u n t | abandonment, abatement, accompaniment, accouterment, achievement, acknowledgement, acknowledgment, adamant, adjournment, adjustment, adornment, advancement, advertisement, advisement, aggrandizement, agreement, ailment, alignment, allotment, amazement, amendment, amusement, announcement, annulment, antigovernment, apartment, appeasement, appointment, apportionment, argument, armament, arraignment, arrangement, assessment, assignment, assortment, atonement, attachment, attainment, basement, battlement, bemusement, bereavement, betterment, bewilderment, bombardment, claimant, Clement, commandment, commencement, commitment, compartment, complement, comportment, concealment, condiment, confinement, consignment, containment, contentment, copayment, curtailment, debarment, debasement, deferment, department, deployment, deportment, derailment, detachment, determent, detriment, development, disagreement, disappointment, disarmament, disbarment, disbursement, discernment, discouragement, disenchantment, disenfranchisement, disengagement, disgruntlement, disillusionment, disinvestment, dismantlement, dismemberment, displacement, divestment, dormant, easement, element, embankment, embarrassment, embayment, embezzlement, embodiment, emplacement, employment, empowerment, enactment, encampment, enchantment, encirclement, encouragement, encroachment, endangerment, endearment, endorsement, endowment, enforcement, engagement, enhancement, enjoyment, enlargement, enlightenment, enlistment, enrichment, enrollment, enslavement, entanglement, entertainment, enticement, entitlement, entombment, entrapment, entrenchment, environment, equipment, escapement, escarpment, estrangement, excitement, excrement, experiment, figment, filament, formant, fragment, fulfillment, garment, government, harassment, impairment, impeachment, impediment, implement, impoundment, impressment, imprisonment, improvement, incitement, inclement, increment, indictment, inducement, informant, infotainment, infringement, installment, instrument, integument, internment, intersegment, investment, involvement, judgement, judgment, ligament, maltreatment, management, measurement, micromanagement, misgovernment, misjudgment, mismanagement, misstatement, mistreatment, moment, monument, movement, nongovernment, nonmanagement, nonpayment, ointment, ornament, orpiment, outplacement, overpayment, overstatement, parchment, parliament, pavement, payment, pigment, placement, postponement, postretirement, predicament, prejudgment, prepayment, presentment, procurement, pronouncement, puzzlement, readjustment, realignment, reappointment, reapportionment, rearmament, rearrangement, reassessment, reassignment, recruitment, redeployment, redevelopment, reemployment, reenactment, refinement, regiment, reimbursement, reinforcement, reinstatement, reinvestment, repayment, replacement, requirement, resentment, resettlement, restatement, retirement, retrenchment, rudiment, sacrament, sediment, segment, sentiment, settlement, shipment, statement, supplement, temperament, tenement, testament, tournament, treatment, underdevelopment, underemployment, undergarment, underpayment, understatement, unemployment, vehement, wonderment. |
| 3 | -u n t | aberrant, abhorrent, abortifacient, absent, absorbent, abstinent, abundant, accelerant, accident, accountant, adherent, adjacent, adjutant, adolescent, afferent, affiant, affluent, agent, ambient, ambivalent, ancient, antecedent, antidepressant, antioxidant, apparent, applicant, ardent, argent, arrant, arrogant, ascendant, aspirant, assailant, assistant, astringent, attendant, belligerent, beneficent, benevolent, blatant, brilliant, buoyant, celebrant, clairvoyant, client, coefficient, cogent, cognizant, coherent, coincident, combatant, competent, complacent, complainant, complaisant, compliant, component, concomitant, concurrent, confident, confluent, consequent, consistent, consonant, constant, constituent, consultant, contaminant, contestant, continent, contingent, convalescent, convenient, convent, convergent, conversant, coolant, corespondent, cormorant, correspondent, Courant, covenant, Crescent, crosscurrent, current, decadent, decedent, decent, declarant, decongestant, defendant, defiant, deficient, defoliant, delinquent, deodorant, dependent, depressant, descendant, descendent, despondent, detergent, determinant, deterrent, deviant, different, diligent, discordant, disinfectant, disobedient, dispersant, dissident, dissonant, distant, divalent, divergent, docent, dominant, ebullient, efferent, effervescent, efficient, effluent, elegant, elephant, eloquent, emergent, emigrant, eminent, entrant, equivalent, errant, esculent, evanescent, evident, excellent, exigent, existent, exorbitant, expectant, expectorant, expedient, exponent, extant, extravagant, exuberant, exultant, Fabricant, fervent, flagrant, flamboyant, flatulent, flippant, fluent, fluorescent, fragrant, fraudulent, frequent, gallant, giant, grandiloquent, grandparent, hesitant, hydrant, ignorant, immanent, immigrant, imminent, impatient, impertinent, important, impotent, imprudent, inadvertent, incandescent, incessant, incident, incipient, incoherent, incompetent, inconsistent, incontinent, inconvenient, incumbent, indecent, independent, indifferent, indigent, indignant, indolent, indulgent, inefficient, infant, infrequent, ingredient, inhabitant, inhalant, inherent, innocent, inpatient, insignificant, insistent, insolent, insolvent, instant, insufficient, insurgent, intelligent, intercurrent, interdependent, intermittent, intolerant, intransigent, invariant, iridescent, irrelevant, irreverent, irritant, itinerant, jubilant, latent, leant, lenient, lieutenant, litigant, lubricant, lucent, luminescent, luxuriant, magnificent, malevolent, malignant, merchant, migrant, militant, miscreant, monovalent, mordant, mutant, nascent, negligent, noncombatant, nonexistent, nonresident, nonviolent, nutrient, obedient, observant, obsolescent, occupant, odorant, omnipotent, omnipresent, omniscient, operant, opponent, opulent, outpatient, overconfident, oxidant, pageant, parent, participant, patent, patient, peasant, penchant, pendant, penitent, pennant, percipient, permanent, persistent, pertinent, petulant, pheasant, piquant, pleasant, pliant, poignant, pollutant, potent, preadolescent, precedent, predominant, preeminent, pregnant, prescient, present, prevalent, proficient, prominent, propellant, proponent, protestant, provident, prudent, prurient, pungent, pursuant, quadrant, quiescent, quotient, radiant, rampant, reagent, recalcitrant, recent, recipient, recombinant, recurrent, redundant, refrigerant, Regent, registrant, relevant, reliant, reluctant, reminiscent, remnant, repellent, repentant, repugnant, resident, resilient, resistant, resonant, resplendent, respondent, resultant, resurgent, retardant, reticent, reverent, rodent, ruminant, salient, seafront, sealant, semipermanent, Sequent, sergeant, serpent, servant, significant, silent, solvent, somnolent, stagnant, stimulant, strident, stringent, student, subcontinent, subsequent, subservient, succulent, sufficient, supergiant, superintendent, supplicant, suppressant, surfactant, talent, tangent, tenant, tetravalent, tolerant, torrent, transcendent, transient, translucent, transparent, trenchant, trident, triumphant, truant, truculent, tumescent, turbulent, tyrant, undercurrent, unimportant, unpleasant, unrepentant, urgent, vacant, vagrant, valiant, variant, verdant, vibrant, vigilant, violent, virulent, warrant. |
Source: compiled by the editor (additional references); see credits. | ||
Scrabble® Enable2K-Verified Anagrams | |
| Words within the letters "b-e-e-e-h-i-l-l-m-m-n-s-t" | |
-3 letters: belemnites, emblements. | |
-4 letters: belemnite, beltlines, embellish. | |
-5 letters: beelines, beltline, bheestie, elements, emetines, enlistee, ensemble, hellbent, helmsmen, hemlines, libelees, nimblest, selenite, shlemiel, stilbene, stillmen, tensible, theelins, thimbles. | |
| Words containing the letters "b-e-e-e-h-i-l-l-m-m-n-s-t" | |
+1 letter: embellishments. | |
+4 letters: overembellishment. | |
+5 letters: overembellishments. | |
| Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits. SCRABBLE® is a registered trademark. All intellectual property rights in and to the game are owned in the U.S.A and Canada by Hasbro Inc., and throughout the rest of the world by J.W. Spear & Sons Limited of Maidenhead, Berkshire, England, a subsidiary of Mattel Inc. Mattel and Spear are not affiliated with Hasbro. | |
Hexadecimal (or equivalents, 770AD-1900s) (references)45 6D 62 65 6C 6C 69 73 68 6D 65 6E 74 |
| Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519; backwards) (references)
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| American Sign Language (origins from 1620-1817 in Italy and, especially, France) (references)
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| Semaphore (1791, in France) (references)
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| Braille (1829, in France) (references)
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Morse Code (1836) (references). -- -... . .-.. .-.. .. ... .... -- . -. - |
| Dancing Men (Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, 1903) (references)
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Binary Code (1918-1938, probably earlier) (references)01000101 01101101 01100010 01100101 01101100 01101100 01101001 01110011 01101000 01101101 01100101 01101110 01110100 |
HTML Code (1990) (references)E m b e l l i s h m e n t |
ISO 10646 (1991-1993) (references)0045 006D 0062 0065 006C 006C 0069 0073 0068 006D 0065 006E 0074 |
| British Sign Language (Fingerspelling, BSL; 1992, British Deaf Association Dictionary of British Sign Language) (references)
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Encryption (beginner's substitution cypher): (references)39796871787875857479718086 |
| 1. Definition 2. Synonyms 3. Crosswords 4. Usage: Commercial | 5. Images: Slideshow 6. Usage Frequency 7. Expressions 8. Expressions: Internet | 9. Translations: Modern 10. Translations: Ancient 11. Derivations 12. Rhymes | 13. Anagrams 14. Orthography 15. Bibliography |
Copyright © Philip M. Parker, INSEAD. Terms of Use.
