[f. as prec. + -MENT.]
1. The action or process of embellishing or beautifying; decoration, ornamentation.
1623. Cockeram, Eng. Dict., II. Beautifying, Embellishment, Decoration.
1678. Trans. Crt. Spain, I. 206. The thing that contributed most to the embellishment of that Festival, was the great abundance of Ladies that were in the Windows to see him pass.
1711. Addison, Spect., No. 1, ¶ 8. I am sensible they might not tend to the Embellishment of my paper.
1868. Milman, St. Paul’s, 340. A Turkish merchant devoted no less a sum than 10,000l. to the internal embellishment of St. Paul’s.
2. That which embellishes or beautifies, lit. and fig.; an ornament, decoration, setting off; esp. a grace of diction or composition, a poetical image, episode or hyperbole; also, in pejorative sense, an exaggeration (cf. EMBELLISH v. 1 c).
1632. Quarles, Div. Fancies, IV. lxxx. (1660), 165. But now, has not the least imbellishment Of Heav’nly knowledge.
1662. Fuller, Worthies (1840), III. 256. Abatement is made for poetical embellishments.
1664. H. More, Myst. Iniq., 223. A Book that has some pleasing Embellishments on the back-side.
1717. Lady M. W. Montague, Lett., II. xliv. 22. A relation, that has … received many embellishments from my hand.
1772. Pennant, Tours Scotl. (1774), 343. Nor are the lofty headlands a less embellishment.
1830. D’Israeli, Charles I., III. ii. 18. Formed for peace, and the embellishments of life.
