Gaudies

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. Bright, showy, and often tasteless decorations or trinkets used for ornamental purposes; lively, festive parties or celebrations characterized by extravagance; a set of ceremonial or traditional attire worn on special occasions
2. Ornamentations that are conspicuously flashy and lacking subtlety; exuberant social gatherings marked by excessive decoration and merriment; distinctive garments or accessories associated with formal or celebratory events
3. Decorations that attract attention through their bold and gaudy appearance; spirited and ostentatious festivities filled with vibrant displays; ceremonial clothing or adornments that signify importance during a celebration

Etymology: "Gaudies" is simply the plural of "gaudy," and the more surprising story lies in the noun it comes from. Its ancestor is Latin "gaudium," meaning "joy," which is also the source of the English words "joy" and "jo" (the two entered English by different routes, making them doublets). Medieval Latin "gaudia" passed into Old French as "gaudie," and Middle English borrowed it as "gaudi," which originally meant a trinket or ornament, the sort of thing that brings pleasure to the eye. A second, unrelated strand also fed the word. Old French "gaude" named weld, a plant that yields a yellow dye, so "gawdy" in Middle English could mean "yellowish." The two senses of showiness and yellowness fused into the modern adjective, and the plural "gaudies" carries the older noun sense of ornaments and festive finery.

Synonyms: gaudy items, tacky decorations, showy ornaments, flashy trinkets, cheap jewelry

Antonyms: understated items, simple ornaments, elegant decorations