aureate
|ɔːr-i-ət|
/ˈɔːriət/
golden; ornate
Etymology
'aureate' originates from Latin, specifically the word 'aureatus', where 'aurum' meant 'gold'.
'aureatus' passed through Medieval and Late Latin usage and was borrowed into English (early modern period) as 'aureate', ultimately becoming the modern English 'aureate'.
Initially it meant 'gilded' or 'made of gold', but over time it evolved into the broader sense of 'ornamented' or 'highly elaborate in style'.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a person (often a writer or poet) who uses elaborate, ornate, or highly ornamental language; an exponent of a rich or 'golden' style.
Many reviewers labeled him an aureate for his consistently ornate prose.
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Adjective 1
made of gold or having the color or appearance of gold; golden, gilded.
The aureate chalice gleamed in the candlelight.
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Adjective 2
marked by grandiloquent, ornate, or highly elaborate style (especially of language); flowery or richly ornamented in expression.
Critics accused the essay of being too aureate, favoring showy rhetoric over clarity.
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Last updated: 2025/11/20 06:54