bejewel: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal, Literary, Poetic
Quick answer
What does “bejewel” mean?
To decorate or adorn with jewels or other bright, shiny ornaments.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
To decorate or adorn with jewels or other bright, shiny ornaments.
To cover something profusely with sparkling or bright objects, often implying richness, ostentation, or elaborate decoration.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage. Spelling is identical. The word is used in both varieties with equal semantic range.
Connotations
Slightly old-fashioned or literary in both varieties. It is not a common colloquial term.
Frequency
Equally low-frequency and formal in both British and American English.
Grammar
How to Use “bejewel” in a Sentence
[Subject] + bejewel + [Object] (e.g., She bejeweled the tiara.)[Object] + be + bejeweled + with + [Material] (e.g., The frame was bejeweled with sapphires.)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “bejewel” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The queen's robe was bejewelled with pearls and rubies.
- Artisans would spend months to bejewel a single ceremonial sword.
American English
- The singer's costume was bejeweled with hundreds of sequins.
- They planned to bejewel the trophy for the championship.
adverb
British English
- N/A - 'bejewelled' is not standardly used as an adverb.
American English
- N/A - 'bejeweled' is not standardly used as an adverb.
adjective
British English
- The bejewelled sceptre was kept under guard.
- She arrived in a bejewelled turban.
American English
- The bejeweled handle of the dagger caught the light.
- He gave her a bejeweled compact mirror.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare, except possibly in marketing copy for luxury goods (e.g., 'a bejeweled watch').
Academic
Rare, may appear in art history, fashion history, or literary analysis texts.
Everyday
Very rare in casual conversation. More likely in descriptive writing.
Technical
Not used in technical contexts.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “bejewel”
- Using it as a noun (e.g., 'She wore a beautiful bejewel' – incorrect).
- Confusing spelling: 'bejewelled' (UK past participle spelling) vs. 'bejeweled' (US). The base verb is the same.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is a formal, literary word. More common synonyms are 'decorate with jewels' or 'adorn'.
Yes, it can be used metaphorically. For example, 'Stars bejewel the night sky' or 'Dew bejeweled the spider's web.'
The past tense and past participle are 'bejeweled' (American English) or 'bejewelled' (British English).
No, the related noun is 'bejewelment', but it is extremely rare. The state is usually described as 'being bejeweled'.
To decorate or adorn with jewels or other bright, shiny ornaments.
Bejewel is usually formal, literary, poetic in register.
Bejewel: in British English it is pronounced /bɪˈdʒuː.əl/, and in American English it is pronounced /bɪˈdʒuː.əl/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None directly associated with 'bejewel' as a verb.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'BE'coming covered with JEWELs = BEJEWEL.
Conceptual Metaphor
VALUABLE IS DECORATED (The act of adding jewels metaphorically increases value and beauty).
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is the BEST synonym for 'bejewel' in a literary context?