accoutrement
noun
ə-ˈkü-tər-mənt
Arthur HermanElizabeth Drew
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Tracing Accoutrement Back to Old French
Accoutrement and its rarer relative accoutre, a verb meaning "to provide with equipment or furnishings" or "to outfit," have been appearing in English texts since the 16th century. Today both words have variant spellings—accouterment and accouter. The pair's French ancestor, accoutrer, descends from an Old French word meaning "seam" and ultimately traces to the Latin word consuere, meaning "to sew together." Some etymological stitching is visible in another English word: couture, a word referring to the business of making fashionable clothes, as well as to the clothes themselves, is also a descendant of consuere.
Synonyms
Examples of accoutrement in a Sentence
Keith Pandolfi, The Enquirer, 15 Mar. 2024
But the mouse has receded into the shadows and there adapted to a smaller niche, sprouting strange new features and accoutrements.
—Ian Bogost, The Atlantic, 24 Jan. 2024
Briny tinned fish and salted butter are served as accoutrements for crackers and fresh bread.
—Detroit Free Press, 6 Mar. 2024
With a length that is six feet smaller, this boat is just as creative with yacht-y accoutrements, along with attention to detail that cements Tiara’s next-generation ambitions.
—Kevin Koenig, Robb Report, 5 Mar. 2024
Host Aidy Bryant made use of the location by trying to get a beach party started inside the tent by bringing out all the necessary accoutrements, including beach balls, hot dogs and a few shirtless men in board shorts.
—Chris Gardner, The Hollywood Reporter, 26 Feb. 2024
Price: $15 Female-founded in Tennessee, this artisan ice cream company oozes Southern charm, not to mention a variety of sweet and salty accoutrements that take their already rich and creamy base to a whole different level.
—Lois Alter Mark, Forbes, 16 Feb. 2024
That sizzling, high-shine gown looked all the more arresting for its piratical accoutrements.
—Alice Newbold, Glamour, 10 Feb. 2024
Thompson and his team were tasked with making period-accurate musical accoutrements that were also practical.
—Mia Galuppo, The Hollywood Reporter, 28 Dec. 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'accoutrement.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near accoutrement
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“Accoutrement.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/accoutrement. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
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accoutrement
noun
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