What does ornately mean?
Ornately is an adverb meaning in an elaborate, richly decorated, or showily elaborate manner. It is especially common in descriptions of clothing, architecture, furnishings, writing, and ceremonies whose details are intricate or luxurious. The word can be approving, as when an object displays craftsmanship and beauty, but it can also suggest excess, fussiness, or an unnecessarily ornate style. For example, a room may be ornately decorated with carved wood and gilded ornament, while a speaker may use an ornately formal vocabulary. Together with the related adjective ornate, it emphasizes visual complexity and elaboration. It is useful when precise description matters, since it distinguishes a deliberately embellished presentation from one that is plain, restrained, or practical.
adverbIn an ornate, elaborate, or richly decorative manner.
- In a richly decorative, elaborate, or ornate manner.
"The entrance hall was ornately decorated with carved columns and gilded details."
"The costume was ornately embroidered with gold thread."
"She spoke about the ceremony in an ornately formal register."
Ornately turns the simple act of dressing up into a parade of detail.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does ornately come from?
The adverb comes from the adjective ornate, which entered English in the late 15th century from Latin ornatus, the past participle of ornare, meaning 'to adorn' or 'to equip'. The Latin noun ornamentum, meaning 'decoration' or 'equipment', also developed from this root. Over time, ornate came to refer not only to physical decoration but also to elaborate language and style, and ornately carries that extended sense into descriptions of manner and presentation.
Related word forms
How ornately is actually used
The adverb is commonly used for clothing, buildings, writing, and speech or ceremony when these are unusually elaborate or decorative. It can suggest extravagance or excessive embellishment as well as visual richness.
Easily confused with ornately
Ornately describes the manner in which something is done, while ornamental describes something that serves as decoration.