paraphernalia (2009-04-17)

Part of Speech: noun

Pronunciation: [pæ-rê-fê(r)-'ney-lyê]

Definition: (1) Personal belongings. (2) Historically, a married woman's legal property that she may pass to her children (not her dowry, which traditionally goes to her husband for keeps). (3) Equipment used by a particular organization or profession, as football or sound paraphernalia.

Usage: When using today's word to refer to personal belongings, it is best to have a woman in mind, "Sarah Belham counted the Jaguar and the house attached to the garage where it slept at night among her acquired paraphernalia." In 'Orley Farm' Anthony Trollop described the judge, jury, and lawyers as the "paraphernalia of justice." Whistles and badges are among the paraphernalia of policemen and the baseball catcher's paraphernalia would include a facemask, a chest protector and shin guards.

Suggested Usage: Here is a tough one: Merriam-Webster's has given up on the second [r] but we still think that in dialects which otherwise retain the [r] at the end of syllables (as we do in the US), it should be pronounced. Do be sure to spell today's word with the [r]—it is not optional in the spelling.

Etymology: Medieval Latin paraphernalia "pertaining to the parapherna," a married woman's property exclusive of her dowry, from Greek para- "beyond" + pherne "dowry." The Greek root pher- turns up in "amphora," a large oval container for transporting goods, and "euphoria," originally "well-bringing" or "well-brought." It is related to Latin ferre "to carry, bear" found in "ferry" and all the words on –fer: "defer," "prefer," "confer," etc. In English the same primitive root developed into "bear" and, with the suffix –ing, "bring."