bedizen

/bɪˈdaɪzən/

Other forms: bedizened; bedizening; bedizens

Bedizen means to decorate yourself or something else to the max — in an over-the-top flashy style. Picture big jewels and gold bling.

Bedizen is used only in written form now, though because so few people know what it actually means you might well get away with saying, "Oh, I like the way you've bedizened yourself today," without getting a slap in the face. In fact, they'll probably take it as a compliment. However, people rarely use bedizen in a complimentary way. From the old Dutch word dizen, meaning "to deck out."

Definitions of bedizen

1. verb

   decorate tastelessly
   type of:

   adorn, beautify, decorate, embellish, grace, ornament

   make more attractive by adding ornament, color, etc.
2. verb

   dress up garishly and tastelessly
   synonyms: dizen

   type of:

   attire, deck out, deck up, dress up, fancy up, fig out, fig up, get up, gussy up, overdress, prink, rig out, tog out, tog up, trick out, trick up

   put on special clothes to appear particularly appealing and attractive