bedizenry

English

Etymology

bedizen +‎ -ry

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /bɪˈdaɪzənɹɪ/, /bɪˈdɪzənɹɪ/

Noun

bedizenry (uncountable)

1. Showy or gaudy decorations or finery.
   • 1847, Henry Howe, Historical Collections of Virginia, Charleston: W.R. Babcock, “Fairfax,” p. 259,^[1]

     Money made in the stocks can purchase the bedizenry of our city drawing-rooms; but these elevating associations, which no gold can buy, no popular favor win, which can only be inherited, these are the heir-looms, the traditionary titles and pensions, inalienable, not conferred, which a republic allows to the descendants of her great servants.

   • 1900, Louise Jordan Miln, chapter 25, in Wooings and Weddings in Many Climes‎^[2], Chicago & New York: Herbert & Stone, page 345:

     A Sikh will travel any distance to join a barat, walking briskly through the glittering scorch of the indescribable Punjaubi sunshine, clad in all the weight and bedizenry of his best raiment […]

   • 1989, Jack Vance, chapter 6, in Madouc‎^[3], Novato, California: Underwood-Miller, page 130:

     “I have heard that in Rome and Ravenna the churches are crammed so full with gold ornaments and jeweled gewgaws that they lack space for aught else. Be assured that never a penny from the Royal Exchequer of Lyonesse will be spent on such bedizenry.”