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finery

finery

10 7.1
Fancy clothes and jewelry worn for a special occasion
  • noun
  • /ˈfaɪnəri/
translation icon : atuendo de gala
  • The bride arrived at the church in her exquisite finery, adorned with intricate lace and sparkling accessories.
  • dressed in their finery
  • wearing her finery

So those were their symbolic warriors dressed up in all of their finery.

Examples

  • I dressed up in all my finery.

  • Also, I'm afraid jewelry and such finery are not allowed.

  • And here you are with my finery.

  • Look at you and all your finery.

  • What should I do with such finery?

  • Then the guests came in all their finery with packages and flowers.

    Academic text (1995)
  • All were dressed in their best finery, and he suddenly remembered this was Sunday.

    Fiction book (1990)
  • Soon we'll have you attired once more in princely finery.

  • The bright sunlight was almost as dazzling as the finery of the people crowding the steps.

    Fiction book (1991)
  • Bruce and Chase, in evening finery, take their seats amidst a barrage of flashing photographers.

    Fiction book (1995)

Synonyms

dress
vsfinery
333 1.0

Clothes of a particular style or for a special occasion

is more elaborate and meant to attract attention rather than just occasion wear
haute couture
vsfinery
4 8.8

Clothes that are very expensive and made to fit one person by top fashion designers

emphasizes decorative show and wearing for attention rather than production process
formalwear
vsfinery
3 3.6

Clothes for special events in the evening, like suits or long dresses

focuses on attracting attention and decoration rather than only event use
flashy clothing
vsfinery
3.2

Clothes that are very bright or look expensive to get attention

is decorative for special occasions rather than merely showy
schmancy dress
vsfinery
  • Informal
8.9

A fancy stylish outfit that people wear to special events

is more neutral and used seriously for elaborate occasion clothing

Antonyms

10 2.7

Being plain and without decoration

1 3.5

Being simple and without decoration

How Fancy

regalia
7 9.1
finery
10 7.1

Surface Forms

finery singular
fineries plural

Morphology

finery = fine (transparent) = fine + ery

The meaning is directly derived from 'fine' (elegant/high-quality) plus the collective/nominal suffix '-ery', yielding items of fineness (elaborate clothing).

Etymology

The word finery comes from the common word fine, which meant 'delicate' or 'high quality', plus the ending -ery that turns it into a thing you have. So, finery is a set of fancy clothes and jewelry worn for special occasions or to attract attention.