EMBELLISH


Meaning of EMBELLISH in English

ə̇mˈbelish, em-, -lēsh, esp in pres part -ləsh transitive verb

( -ed/-ing/-es )

Etymology: Middle English embelisshen, from Middle French embeliss-, stem of embelir, from em- en- (I) + bel beautiful — more at beauty

1. obsolete : to make beautiful

2. : to make beautiful or elegant with ornaments or ornamentation : decorate , adorn

embellished a book with pictures

the faults with which nature has generously embellished us all — Henry Adams

3. : to enhance, amplify, or garnish (an account) by elaboration with inessential but decorative or fanciful details

speech … embellished with felicitous classical quotations — H.W.H.Knott

embellished his story, distorting and inventing detail to suit himself — Rex Ingamells

Synonyms: see adorn

Webster's New International English Dictionary.      Новый международный словарь английского языка Webster.