King James Bible Dictionary

OR'NAMENT, noun [Latin ornamentum, from orno, to adorn. Varro informs us that this was primitively osnamentum; but this is improbable. See Adorn.]

1. That which embellishes; something which, added to another thing, renders it more beautiful to the eye.

The chains, and the bracelets, and the mufflers, the bonnets and the ornaments of the legs - Isaiah 3:18.

2. In architecture, ornaments are sculpture or carved work.

3. Embellishment; decoration; additional beauty.

- The ornament of a meek and quiet spirit which is in the sight of God of great price. 1 Peter 3:4.

OR'NAMENT, verb transitive To adorn; to deck; to embellish.

ORNAMENT'AL, adjective Serving to decorate; giving additional beauty; embellishing.

Some think it most ornamental to wear their bracelets on their wrists; others about their ankles.

ORNAMENT'ALLY, adverb In such a manner as to add embellishment.

OR'NAMENTED, participle passive Decorated; embellished; beautified.

OR'NAMENTING, participle present tense Decorating; embellishing.

The number, variety and weight of the ornaments ordinarily worn upon the person form one of the characteristic features of Oriental costume, in both ancient and modem times. The monuments of ancient Egypt exhibit the persons of ladies load with rings, earrings Of vary great size, anklets, armlets, bracelets of the most varied forms, richly-ornamented necklaces, and chains of various kinds. There is sufficient evidence in the Bible that the inhabitants of Palestine were equally devoted to finery. In the Old Testament. Isaiah, (Isaiah 3:18-23) supplies us with a detailed description of the articles with which the luxurious women of his day were decorated. Eliezer decorated Rebekah with "a golden nose-ring of half a shekel (1/4 oz.) weight, and two bracelets for her hands of ten shekels (4 1/2 oz.) weight of gold." (Genesis 23:22) Earrings were worn by Jacob's wives. (Genesis 35:4) The number of personal ornaments worn by the Egyptians, particularly by the females, 19 incidentally noticed in (Exodus 3:22)