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View synonyms for paraphernalia

paraphernalia

[ par-uh-fer-neyl-yuh, -fuh-neyl- ]

noun

  1. (sometimes used with a singular verb) equipment, apparatus, or furnishing used in or necessary for a particular activity:

    a skier's paraphernalia.

    Synonyms: trappings

  2. (used with a plural verb) personal belongings.

    Synonyms: effects

  3. (used with a singular verb) Law. the personal articles, apart from dower, reserved by law to a married woman.


paraphernalia

/ ˌpærəfəˈneɪlɪə /

plural noun

  1. miscellaneous articles or equipment
  2. law (formerly) articles of personal property given to a married woman by her husband before or during marriage and regarded in law as her possessions over which she has some measure of control
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012


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Other Words From

  • para·pher·nalian par·a·pher·nal [par-, uh, -, fur, -nl], adjective
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Word History and Origins

Origin of paraphernalia1

1470–80; < Medieval Latin paraphernālia ( bona ) a bride's goods, beyond her dowry, equivalent to Late Latin paraphern ( a ) a bride's property (< Greek parápherna, equivalent to para- para- 1 + phern ( ) dowry, derivative of phérein to bear 1 + -a neuter plural noun suffix) + Latin -ālia, noun use of neuter plural of -ālis -al 1
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Word History and Origins

Origin of paraphernalia1

C17: via Medieval Latin from Latin parapherna personal property of a married woman, apart from her dowry, from Greek, from para- 1+ phernē dowry, from pherein to carry
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Example Sentences

From demonstrations and political paraphernalia on the podium to an athlete defecting at the Games, there’s been a marked increase in political activity in Tokyo over the past few days—but the Olympics have always been political.

From Quartz

Children have found needles and drug paraphernalia in the grass.

Looking back at all the paraphernalia I've spent money on, I just shake my head and wish I'd known this 30 years ago when I started to grow a mustache.

Our lab is physically just like an office that has nothing in it except for dog-related paraphernalia and some video cameras.

Cropped out of frame are the tangles of wires and extension cords, baskets of laundry to be folded, and growing pile of homeschooling paraphernalia kids accumulate.

From Quartz

I tell him about the Pleasure Chest--a Hollywood shop that sells sexual paraphernalia.

The conversation turned to Elvis when the Duchess mentioned her growing collection of Presley recordings and paraphernalia.

And this impression may be right…granted their children would have needed access to drugs and sex paraphernalia.

Offense V.a: Illegal possession or use of drugs and/or alcohol and/or drug paraphernalia.

Only its wall rifle display and rows of gun paraphernalia give it away.

As all three seemed perfectly willing to let him have their listening paraphernalia, Darry refused.

But she told them all the helpful things she could about setting up the radio paraphernalia and rigging the wires.

There was also a small scarlet-coated hunting costume and all the paraphernalia of the chase.

They carry the kit and camp paraphernalia for the men who go into the jungle sometimes for months.

Dunham shook his head as he bundled their paraphernalia out of the boat.

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