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to bejewel

to bejewel

5 8.2
To decorate something with jewels or precious stones
  • verb
  • /bɪˈdʒuːəl/
translation icon : adornar
  • On their wedding day, as a symbol of his undying devotion, Mark Antony presented Cleopatra with three bejeweled eggs, each one more exquisite than the last.
  • bejeweled headband
  • bejeweled dresses
  • bejeweled brooch

Examples

  • The artist decided to bejewel the ornate frame of the mirror with sparkling gemstones.

  • The large blond man who spoke to me during jury selection was there, with a bejeweled woman who looked past me.

    Fiction book (1992)
  • You would perhaps look foolish wearing the blue, bejeweled, suede dress.

    Blog text (14)
  • It is a bejeweled amulet.

  • A young bejeweled woman in simple cloth contrasts with the rough stone structure beside and behind her.

    Academic text (2006)
  • Sassa touched the tips of his bejeweled fingers together, the rings flashing laser fire.

    Fiction book (1992)
  • She heard the horses' hooves on the cobbles, quickly roused to dress and bejewel herself.

    Fiction book (1999)
  • She was always bejewelled, decked out in her diamonds, emeralds, makeup, hair, glamorous and fabulous at all times.

  • I must confess to fantasies of some great bejeweled display, days on end of glittering festivities, with everyone resplendent.

    Fiction book (2000)
  • Though resolute in stance, the figure is nonetheless dynamic in form with its extending coiffure, elongated earlobes, projecting breasts, and bejeweled forearms.

    Academic text (2007)

Synonyms

to jewel
vsto bejewel
10 6.8

To decorate something with precious stones

is identical in meaning and use
to begem
vsto bejewel
  • Archaic
9.9

To decorate something with gems like diamonds or rubies

is limited to decorating with precious stones rather than many ornament types
to beset
vsto bejewel
  • Literature
9.1

To cover an object with many jewels or decorations

is about decorating without implying lavish or full coverage
to pearl
vsto bejewel
7.7

To decorate something by putting small round white beads on it

is broader covering any precious stones rather than only such beads
to bespangle
vsto bejewel
  • Archaic
9.9

To cover or decorate something with small shiny things

uses actual precious stones rather than simple shiny bits

Antonyms

198 3.2

To take something important away from someone or stop them having it

42 2.7

Remove all covering or contents from an object so it is left bare

How Decorated

to encrust
12 6.7
to bejewel
5 8.2
to decorate
226 1.9
to adorn
45 4.9
trim
34 3.8

Surface Forms

bejewel infinitive
bejewelled past
bejewelled past participle
bejeweling present participle
bejewels third person singular

Morphology

bejewel = jewel (transparent) = be + jewel

Formed by the productive prefix 'be-' added to the noun 'jewel' meaning 'to adorn with jewels', which is directly inferable.

Etymology

The word bejewel comes from the be- part plus the word jewel. The be- part means 'to make' or 'cover with', so bejewel means to 'decorate with jewels'.