bejewel
Pronunciation
UK
- /bɪdʒˈuːəl/
US
- /bɪdʒˈuːəl/
Description
- adorn with jewels
- decorate lavishly
- embellish
Imagine a queen's crown – glittering with rubies, emeralds, and diamonds. To bejewel something is to adorn it beautifully with gems, making it sparkle and shine. But it doesn't have to be literal! You can bejewel a story with rich details or bejewel your language with poetic phrases. It's about adding precious elements to enhance beauty or value. Think of a simple wooden box transformed into a treasure by the addition of glittering stones – that's the essence of bejewel.
To bejewel means to decorate something with jewels, but its meaning extends beyond simply sticking gems onto an object. It implies a lavish and ornate embellishment, adding beauty and value through precious adornments. Originally, it literally meant to set with jewels – think of a goldsmith bejeweling a necklace or a craftsman bejeweling a sword hilt.
However, the word has taken on a more figurative meaning. You can bejewel a narrative by filling it with vivid imagery and compelling characters. A skilled orator might bejewel their speech with eloquent language and powerful metaphors. Even a simple melody can be bejeweled with intricate harmonies.
The act of bejeweling suggests taking something ordinary and elevating it to something extraordinary through the addition of precious, carefully chosen details. It's about enhancing beauty, adding richness, and creating a sense of wonder. You might read in a novel: "The author bejeweled the description of the forest with fantastical creatures and glowing flora." Or perhaps, "She bejeweled her presentation with compelling statistics and anecdotes."
So, whether it's adorning a crown or enriching a story, to bejewel is to add brilliance and splendor through careful and luxurious embellishment.
Examples
- 1
Ceremonial objects
The ceremonial crown was bejeweled with diamonds and sapphires.
Usage
usually literary; in everyday English, people more often say decorated with jewels
- 2
Clothing
She arrived in a bejeweled gown that flashed under the stage lights.
- 3
Nature image
At dawn, drops of rain bejeweled the spider's web.
Forms and spellings
1 form open this card.
Main spelling
- bejewelverb