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Mon 14 Feb, 2005 11:55 pm
paraphrenalia, a kind of gift you can get if you guess the score of a game right.
I know "paraphernalia", though, and that's in the dictionaries :wink:
Oh, Walter, please. Come on and tell me that.
Well that's something totally different to what you asked:
Quote:Main Entry: par·a·pher·na·lia Pronunciation Guide
Pronunciation: R parf(r)nly, -l also per-, -R -fn-
Function: noun plural but sometimes singular in construction
Etymology: Medieval Latin paraphernalia (bona), from paraphernalia (neuter plural of paraphernalis) + Latin bona possessions
1 : the separate paraphernal real or personal property of a married woman that she can dispose of by will and sometimes according to common law during her life
2 : personal belongings (as equipment or finery) <bundled in the paraphernalia, down to scarves and woolly caps -- Truman Capote> <toy soldiers, little chariot wheels, the entire paraphernalia of a baby -- Walter Pater>
3 : articles of equipment : FURNISHINGS, APPARATUS <paraphernalia of art> <lighting paraphernalia> <paraphernalia of war> <ceremonial paraphernalia> <paraphernalia of a circus> <equestrian paraphernalia>
4 : APPURTENANCES <disguising a naked fact in the paraphernalia of philosophy -- Ellen Glasgow> <freedom from the paraphernalia of the modern university -- Review of Politics> <his life ... has been treated merely as part of the whole paraphernalia of conspiracy and romance -- Iris Origo> <the elaborate paraphernalia of our democratic system of popular choice -- A.E.Stevenson died 1965> <multitude of doctrinal disputes which are part of a lawyer's paraphernalia -- R.H.Jackson>
synonym see EQUIPMENT
Well thanks Walter - I have now discovered I am ignorant in regards the meaning of 'appurtances'. And this is supposed to be a knowledge sharing forum........
paraphernalia=appurtenances=peripherals etc.
For some reason, I can't seem to open my online dictionary this morning. But I think Walter's 3rd and 4th definitions are the ones most commonly understood by the word.
paraphernalia=appurtenances=peripherals=useless crap
I think it could do with a edit.
In my experience, if someone just says "paraphernalia" without another modifier, they're talking about drugs or things used to smoke them.
I'm sure that's slang that doesn't come up in a dictionary though.
Marijuana Paraphernalia: bong, bubbler, joint, pipe, gravity bong, chillum, glass, bat, one-hitter, paper, papes, sheets, Phillie, wraps, vaporizer...
Slang Terms for Drugs
rufio wrote:In my experience, if someone just says "paraphernalia" without another modifier, they're talking about drugs or things used to smoke them.
I'm sure that's slang that doesn't come up in a dictionary though.
That's right, rufio. It would depend on the context, of course, but in many cases the presence of the word "paraphernalia" in a conversation would indicate the conversation is about drugs. So would the word "product" without any further explanation of what product is being discussed.
translatorcz has been asking a lot of football/ Super Bowl questions, and in that context it's usually team paraphernalia -- mugs or shirts or mousepads or whatever with the team's logo on it.
Are those with a name signed on it paraphernalias too?
Yep. (Not all team paraphernalia is signed, but signed items can be paraphernalia.)
The word "paraphernalia" is very useful, and I hope its application does not become consigned to illegal drugs, street drugs, and the like.
In etymology, its roots go back to two Greek words combined to mean "beyond dowry" - para + pherne.
It reminds me of "impedimentia" - which goes back to all the gear that a foot soldier has to carry.
Glad to meet you here again, Aa!!!
Oh, my goodness. She's here! This is so great.
(Have to join in the general "look, it's Aa!" revelry -- hope you stick around this time!)
And while you're here, bring Pueo with you. He's been missing too.
Paraphernalia=Gear
AA, good seein you again , but your etymology needs to be updated. Paraphernalia is a conjunctive neologism from the new Greek from two words
Paraphern- which means "crap that we can sell to these dorks"
and
alia-which means "yet even more crap that they will buy"
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