The word "embellish" (ɪmˈbɛlɪʃ) means to decorate or enhance something by adding attractive details. It is spelled with an "e" instead of an "i" at the beginning because the root word is "bellus," which means beautiful in Latin. The "b" is doubled to make the pronunciation of the first syllable clear. The following "l" and "i" are then pronounced separately. The second "l" is doubled to show that the stress is on the second syllable. Overall, the spelling of "embellish" reflects its meaning of adding beauty or attractiveness to something.
Embellish is a verb that can have multiple interpretations depending on its context, but at its core, it refers to the act of enhancing or beautifying something by adding decorative or ornamental details. It involves the artistic strategy of making something more appealing or striking by adding embellishments, such as decorations, ornamentation, or intricate details that enhance its visual or aesthetic appeal.
In a literal sense, to embellish can mean to decorate or adorn an object, attire, or space with embellishments like embroidery, beading, or embellished patterns. This form of embellishing is often employed in fashion, interior design, or art to elevate the visual appeal of a piece.
Conversely, the term can also be used metaphorically to describe the act of adding dramatic or imaginative details to a story, statement, or account. This can include exaggerating or elaborating certain aspects to make the narrative more engaging, impressive, or persuasive. In this sense, embellishing may involve stretching the truth or adding fictional elements to enhance the storytelling or persuasive effect.
Overall, embellish holds the general meaning of adding extra aesthetic value or embellishments to an object or space, as well as the figurative sense of enhancing the impact or engaging qualities of a narrative or statement by adding imaginative or dramatic details.
To decorate; to beautify; to adorn.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word "embellish" can be traced back to the French verb "embellir", meaning "to make beautiful". It entered the English language in the late 14th century and was initially used to refer to the act of adorning something with decorative details or adding ornamentation. The French term, in turn, derived from the Latin word "bellus", meaning "beautiful". Thus, "embellish" essentially means to enhance or beautify something by adding artistic or decorative elements.