Adorn definition

ə-dôrn
adorned adorning adorns
See word origin
Frequency:
To lend beauty to.

Flowers adorned the walkway.

verb
8
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To put decorations on; ornament.
verb
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1
To enhance or decorate with or as if with ornaments.
verb
6
3
To be an ornament to; add beauty, splendor, or distinction to.
verb
4
1
The definition of adorn means to decorate or add beauty to a person or thing.

Adding ornaments to a Christmas tree is an example of a way to adorn.

verb
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To make more beautiful and attractive; to decorate.

A man adorned with noble statuary and columns.

A character adorned with every Christian grace.

A gallery of paintings was adorned with the works of some of the great masters.

verb
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(obsolete) Adornment.

noun
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Origin of adorn

  • Middle English adornen from Old French adourner from Latin adōrnāre ad- ad- ōrnāre to decorate ar- in Indo-European roots

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

  • From Middle English aournen (late Middle English adornen), from Old French aorner (Middle French adorner), from Latin adōrnāre, present active infinitive of adōrnō; from ad + ōrnō (“furnish, embellish”). See adore, ornate.

    From Wiktionary

Adorn Sentence Examples

  • The civil virtues merely adorn the life, without elevating the soul.

  • Of the many fine public buildings which adorn the city scarcely any date before 1860.

  • He will soon shake all nations and their choicest gifts will be brought to adorn His house.

  • Paintings from his brush adorn the cathedral (which has a fine brick campanile), and others are preserved in the gallery of the town hall.

  • Immense booty was secured, the Venetians obtaining among other treasures the four bronze horses which adorn the facade of St Mark's.

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