Polychromed

Part of speech: adjective

Definitions

1. Adorned with a spectrum of colors for aesthetic purposes
2. Enhanced by the application of various hues to create a vibrant appearance
3. Covered or decorated with many different colors to enhance visual appeal

Etymology: "Polychromed" is the past participle of "polychrome," a verb meaning to decorate something with many colors. The verb is formed from the Greek "polychromos," built from "polys," meaning "many," and "chroma," meaning "color." The same two elements appear in other English words, such as "polychromy," the practice of applying color to sculpture and architecture. The pairing is a classical compound: Greek speakers joined the two roots to describe things of many hues, and English later adopted the combination in the same spirit. Because the verb is a learned formation from Greek roots, its sense stays close to the literal one, which is why "polychromed" still reads plainly as "painted in many colors" rather than carrying any figurative shift.

Synonyms: multicolored, variegated, dappled

Antonyms: monochrome