Word – Paraphernalia

Paraphernalia – Word of the Day

Meaning:

1. (noun) Miscellaneous articles, especially the equipment needed for a particular activity.
2. (noun) Trappings associated with a particular institution or activity that are regarded as superfluous.

Origin:

Paraphernalia came to English, via Medieval Latin, from Greek parapherna, meaning “bride’s property beyond her dowry” (from para-, meaning “beyond,” and phernē, meaning “dowry”).

Examples:

1. Go to the hardware store down the corner, it has all the drills, screws, saws and other paraphernalia you need for home improvements.
2. We just need to get some of the paraphernalia needed for the experiment, the lab will procure the really expensive equipment.
3. I found nothing at the crime scene, just some personal notes and astronomy paraphernalia. 
4. The priest was busy looking for all the paraphernalia he needed to begin the ritual. That’s why it took so long for the ceremony to begin.
5. There was some weird stuff in Selena’s bedroom. She had all the paraphernalia one generally keeps for a seance. It was creepy. Like there was a spirit in the room.
6. I’m running down to the department store to get shakers, jiggers and other bar paraphernalia to make the cocktails at tonight’s party.
7. I could easily spend a whole day in a store that sells cooking paraphernalia.
8. The police found drug paraphernalia in his apartment upon searching it.