Decorate
/ˈdɛkəˌreɪt/noun
To make something look more attractive by adding ornament or embellishment.
Did you know?Decorate comes from Latin decorare, built on decor, meaning “seemly beauty” or “propriety,” so the word’s oldest vibe is less party-style sparkle and more controlled, almost ceremonial fittingness.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*dek-
“to take, accept; to be fitting or proper”
Classical Latin
Latin
decor
“beauty, grace, propriety”
Classical Latin
Latin
decorare
“to adorn, honor, grace”
Late Latin
Latin
decoratus
“adorned, honored”
Late Middle English
English
decorate
“to adorn or embellish”