decorativeadj.
/ˈdɛk(ə)rətɪv/, U.S. /ˈdɛk(ə)rədɪv/, /ˈdɛkəˌreɪdɪv/ Having the function of decorating; tending to, pertaining to, or of the nature of decoration.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > beautification > [adjective] > ornamented or decorated > ornamental or decorative
trinkery1582
ornamental1595
bedecking1598
exornatory1657
ornative1660
ornamentary1715
fancy1753
decorative1791
artistic1835
decoratory1889
1791 W. Chambers Civil Archit. (ed. 3) 17 The orders..may be considered as the basis of the whole decorative part of architecture.
1815 W. H. Ireland Scribbleomania 130 (note) To have the piece elegantly printed in quarto with decorative engravings.
1849 E. A. Freeman Hist. Archit. 237 A decorative arch is formed on the west wall.
1855 A. Bain Senses & Intellect ii. iv. 607 In the fancies of decorative art, nature has very little place.
Derivatives
ˈdecoratively adv. in a decorative manner, in reference to decoration.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > beautification > [adverb] > ornamentally or ornately
ornatelya1500
ornamentally1700
adorningly1845
decoratively1882
fancily1958
1882 G. A. Sala Amer. Revisited (1885) 55 A New York hack coupé is superior structurally, decoratively, and locomotively to one of our four-wheelers.
ˈdecorativeness n. the quality of being decorative.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > beautification > [noun] > ornamentation or decoration > quality of being ornamental
ornabilitya1831
ornamentality1842
decorativeness1847
1847 J. Craig New Universal Dict. Decorativeness.
1890 Times 5 Feb. 9 Nowhere, in shape, decorativeness, and certainty of effects for eye, ear, and touch is there the least superfluity or deficiency.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1894; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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adj.1791