adorn

[uh-dawrn]

verb (used with object)

1. to decorate or add beauty to, as by ornaments.

   garlands of flowers adorning their hair.

   Synonyms: array, bedizen, bedeck, deck, beautify

2. to make more pleasing, attractive, impressive, etc.; enhance.

   Piety adorned Abigail's character.

adorn

/ əˈdɔːn /

verb

1. to decorate

   she adorned her hair with flowers

2. to increase the beauty, distinction, etc, of

Other Word Forms

• adornment noun
• adorner noun
• adorningly adverb
• nonadorner noun
• nonadorning adjective
• overadorn verb (used with object)
• preadorn verb (used with object)
• readorn verb (used with object)
• readorning adjective
• self-adorning adjective
• superadorn verb (used with object)

Word History and Origins

Origin of adorn¹

First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English adornen, from Latin adōrnāre, equivalent to ad- ad- + ōrnāre “to dress” ( ornate ); replacing late Middle English aourne, from Middle French, from Latin

Word History and Origins

Origin of adorn¹

C14: via Old French from Latin adōrnāre, from ōrnāre to furnish, prepare

Example Sentences

Women arrive adorned with black lace hairpieces and painted tears a la Virgencita, as men blend dark accents with their Chicano workwear and vaquero boots.

From Los Angeles Times

The company’s clocks could once be found on Navy battleships during World War II, and adorned mantels, walls and desks at the White House for presidents ranging from Dwight Eisenhower to Joe Biden.

From Los Angeles Times

Sitting in her living room, it is impossible to miss a white wall adorned in black handwriting.

From BBC

Soon after, Greene’s work filled nearly every room of his former Palos Verdes home: lamps, shelves, an altar, an armoire adorned with a lotus flower.

From Los Angeles Times

Anything that adorns us daily begins, eventually, to define us.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• beautify 
• bedeck 
• deck 
• dress up 
• embellish 
• grace 
• spruce up 
• trim