ornament

Everyday

1. An ornament is a small object used to make a room, a shelf or a Christmas tree look nice, rather than for a practical use. tree →
2. Ornament is decoration added to something to make it beautiful, like carving on a building. tree →
3. To ornament something is to decorate it. tree →
4. (music) An ornament is extra notes added to decorate a tune. tree →

In the lessons

In everyday life and Christmas traditions, families hang ornaments (baubles) on the tree; grandparents have china ornaments on shelves. In art and history, buildings and furniture have ornament. In stories, a broken ornament causes trouble. Phrases: «Christmas tree ornaments», «a china ornament», «garden ornament».

Examples

• We hung shiny ornaments on the Christmas tree. tree →
• The cat knocked a china ornament off the shelf. tree →
• Grandma's house is full of little ornaments. tree →
• The church door was carved with beautiful ornament. tree →
• We made paper ornaments in art class. tree →
• The garden had a stone frog as an ornament. tree →
• Blooming flowers ornament the staircases, and soft carpets the floors. tree →

Note

Countable for objects (an ornament, ornaments), uncountable for decoration in general. Adjective «ornamental», «ornate» (very decorated). Spelling: or-na-ment, not «ornement».

In Jewish tradition

In the Torah it means jewelry or fine things that people wore. The prophets use it for a bride's jewels and for fine gold, and for a wise word as a beautiful thing worn on the ear.

Interpretation. After the golden calf the people took off their ornaments as a sign of mourning and repentance, and tradition reads this as grieving for their sin. In Jeremiah a bride never forgets her ornaments, yet Israel forgets God. In Ezekiel the ornaments given to Jerusalem stand for God's gifts to her. In Proverbs a wise reprover's word is like a gold ornament to a listening ear.

Examples

• And the children of Israel stripped themselves of their ornaments from mount Horeb onward. (Torah EXO.33.6, JPS 1917) tree →
• And when the people heard these evil tidings, they mourned; and no man did put on him his ornaments. (Torah EXO.33.4, JPS 1917) tree →
• Can a maid forget her ornaments, or a bride her attire? (Prophets JER.2.32, JPS 1917) tree →
• I decked thee also with ornaments, and I put bracelets upon thy hands, and a chain on thy neck. (Prophets EZK.16.11, JPS 1917) tree →
• As an ear-ring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, so is a wise reprover upon an obedient ear. (Writings PRO.25.12, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

Countable for objects (an ornament, ornaments), uncountable for decoration in general. Adjective «ornamental», «ornate» (very decorated). Spelling: or-na-ment, not «ornement».