Adjacent Words

Paraphernalia definitions

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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

PARAPHERNA'LIA, n. [Gr. beyond, and dower.] The goods which a wife brings with her at her marriage, or which she possesses beyond her dower or jointure, and which remain at her disposal after her husband's death. Such are her apparel and her ornaments, over which the executors have no control, unless when the assets are insufficient to pay the debts.

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

n
1: equipment consisting of miscellaneous articles needed for a particular operation or sport etc. [syn: gear, paraphernalia, appurtenance]

Merriam Webster's

noun plural but singular or plural in construction Etymology: Medieval Latin, ultimately from Greek parapherna bride's property beyond her dowry, from para- + phern? dowry, from pherein to bear — more at bear Date: 1651 1. the separate real or personal property of a married woman that she can dispose of by will and sometimes according to common law during her life 2. personal belongings 3. a. articles of equipment ; furnishings b. accessory items ; appurtenances

Oxford Reference Dictionary

n.pl. (also treated as sing.) miscellaneous belongings, items of equipment, accessories, etc. Etymology: orig. = property owned by a married woman, f. med.L paraphernalia f. LL parapherna f. Gk parapherna property apart from a dowry (as PARA-(1), pherna f. pherne dower)

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Paraphernalia Par`a*pher*na"li*a, n. pl. [LL. paraphernalia bona, fr. L. parapherna, pl., parapherna, Gr. ?; ? beside + ? a bride's dowry, fr. fe`rein to bring. See 1st Bear.] 1. (Law) Something reserved to a wife, over and above her dower, being chiefly apparel and ornaments suited to her degree. 2. Appendages; ornaments; finery; equipments.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

1. You can refer to a large number of objects that someone has with them or that are connected with a particular activity as paraphernalia. ...a large courtyard full of builders' paraphernalia... 2. If you disapprove of the things and events that are involved in a particular system or activity, and you think they are unnecessary, you can refer to them as paraphernalia. The public don't necessarily want the paraphernalia of a full hearing. N-UNCOUNT: usu with supp, oft N of n [disapproval]

Soule's Dictionary of English Synonyms

n. pl. Appendages, ornaments, trappings, equipment, equipage, appurtenances, accoutrements.

Moby Thesaurus

accessories, accouterments, appanages, apparatus, appendages, appliances, appointments, appurtenances, armament, baggage, belongings, chattels, choses, choses in action, choses in possession, choses local, choses transitory, clobber, conveniences, crap, duffel, effects, equipage, equipment, facilities, facility, fittings, fixtures, furnishings, furniture, gear, impedimenta, installations, junk, kit, machinery, material things, materials, materiel, movables, munition, munitions, outfit, perquisites, personal effects, plant, plumbing, possessions, property, rig, rigging, rubbish, shit, stock-in-trade, stuff, supplies, tackle, things, trappings, utensils