paraphernalia Definition
para·pher·na·lia (par′ə fər nāl′yə, -nā′lē ə)
- personal belongings
- any collection of articles, usually things used in some activity; equipment; apparatus; trappings; gear
- Law, Obsolete
- personal property given to a wife by her husband which he may dispose of during his life, but which passes to her at his death
- the separate personal property of a wife over which her husband has no control
Etymology: ML, short for paraphernalia bona, wife's own goods < LL parapherna < Gr, bride's possessions beyond her dower < para-, beyond (see para-) + phernē, a dowry, portion < pherein, to bear
paraphernalia Synonyms
paraphernalia Usage Examples
Preposition: of
- war: Every open space seemed filled with the paraphernalia of war.
- life: Inevitably, there were also tombs and all the other essential paraphernalia of life and death.
Converse of object
- inject: Injecting drug users who share needles or other injecting paraphernalia ( e.g spoons, water and filters ) are at high risk of infection.
- associate: Using a MUD does not require any of the paraphernalia commonly associated with virtual reality.
- sell: Shops warned about drug equipment bbc 13/5/05 Police are warning shopkeepers of the consequences of selling drug paraphernalia.
- require: A system of worship that requires no paraphernalia: no crosses, confessionals, priests or pews.
- use: Dancing Demons: Ceremonial Masks of Mongolia presents spectacular examples of masks, costumes, and paraphernalia used in these ceremonies.
- have: Two more officers were summoned when Ballweg pulled the vehicle over on grounds that it had paraphernalia in plain view.
Adjective modifier
- assorted: Within its wainscoted boudoirs a voluminous collection of assorted caving paraphernalia could be found, albeit mostly of the false hair variety.
- usual: Around the edges of the room were the usual paraphernalia of a wizards laboratory.
- related: There's a good choice of garden related paraphernalia at Willow & Stone.
- religious: The Empty Pyramid The Great Pyramid was found containing no tomb of a great Pharoah, no mummified remains or religious paraphernalia.
- domestic: Domestic paraphernalia: Items normally found within the curtilage of a dwelling house such as washing lines, garden sheds, and greenhouses.
- military: Filmed at the warehouse of singer Chris Farlowe, an enthusiastic collector of military paraphernalia.
Noun used with modifier
- drug: A JUDGE has refused to ban a drug addict from carrying drug paraphernalia on the grounds the definition is too vague.
- smoking: All items of smoking paraphernalia are for ornamental purposes or for the use of legal smoking mixes only.
- baby: Mike isn't surprised by the amount of baby paraphernalia on show.
- holiday: The separate utility room has a tumble dryer, an automatic washing machine and space to store holiday paraphernalia.
- tourist: The road leading down to the Shore Temple was lined with stalls selling all types of tourist paraphernalia.
- pub: It also displays a range of pub paraphernalia on the walls, in case you need something to look at.
Browse dictionary entries near paraphernalia
- ‹ paraph
- ‹ parapet
- ‹ paranymph
- ‹ paranormal
- ‹ paranoid schizophrenia
- ‹ paranoid
- ‹ paranoiac
- ‹ paranoia
- ‹ parang
- ‹ Paraná
- paraphilia ›
- paraphrase ›
- paraphrastic ›
- paraphysis ›
- paraplegia ›
- parapraxis ›
- paraprofessional ›
- parapsychology ›
- paraquat ›
- pararescue ›

