Impearl

Part of speech: verb

Definitions

1. To enhance the beauty of an item by decorating it with ornate pearls, creating an effect of luxury and elegance
2. To decorate or embellish an object by attaching pearls to its surface
3. The act of enhancing an item’s appearance by adding pearls to it

Etymology: "Impearl" is a verb meaning to decorate with pearls, built by simply attaching the prefix "im-" to "pearl". The prefix comes from Latin "in-", meaning "in" or "into", and it is the same prefix found in verbs such as "imprison" and "immerse". Adding it to a noun turns the noun into a verb meaning to put the noun into or onto something, so the word describes setting pearls into or onto a surface. The word is a straightforward formation rather than an old word with a dramatic past. Its value lies in showing how English has always been able to coin verbs on the spot from nouns, with "im-" doing the work of "to put in or on".

Synonyms: adorn, embellish, decorate

Antonyms: strip, deprive, denude