Attifering

Part of speech: verb

Definitions

1. Dressing or adorning oneself or someone else in elaborate, fancy clothing and ornaments
2. Arraying a person in decorative garments and finery, often with considerable care and fuss
3. Putting on showy clothes and accessories in order to look smart or ornate

Etymology: "Attifering" is the present participle of "attifer," so it describes the act of dressing up in elaborate or fussy finery. The verb was borrowed from French, where "atifier" meant to adorn or deck out, and its deeper origin is uncertain. English speakers use the verb with a hint of mockery, suggesting that the dressing-up has gone beyond what the occasion calls for. Its sense is closer to fussing over one's appearance than to dressing neatly.

Synonyms: dressing, adorning, arraying