Adornment

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /əˈdɔːnm(ə)nt/

Definitions

1. Something decorative added to enhance appearance or beauty
2. An object or detail used to beautify or embellish something else
3. A decorative element that adds visual appeal or charm to an item or space

Etymology: The verb "adorn" came into English from Old French "adorner", which in turn came from Latin "adornare", meaning to equip, furnish or deck out. The "ad-" prefix intensifies the sense of "ornare", to equip or furnish, so the root idea is one of fitting something out, rather than of beauty alone. "Adornment" is simply the noun made by adding the suffix "-ment" to "adorn". That suffix came into English through Old French from Latin "-mentum", which formed nouns naming the result or means of an action. An adornment, then, is the thing that results from adorning: the extra piece that dresses up something that already stands on its own.

Synonyms: decoration, ornament, embellishment, accessory, trinket

Antonyms: undressing, removal, plainness, disfigurement, deprivation