Bedizen

Definition: To dress in a showy, tasteless manner. Synonymous with the more tacky and generally unappealing intentions of the phrases “gussied-up”, “dolled-up”, and “decked-out”.

Pronunciation: beh-DYE-zunn

Origin:

The origin of its root word “dizen” is completely unknown, though the obsolete prefix “be-” tacked onto the beginning is known to be an English-speaking linguistic phenomenon.

Why this word?

My mother says I’m “tacky”. I gracefully accept her judgment, because I know she’s right. I like sparkles and bold stripes and loud floral prints and kaleidoscopically geometric patterns bright and striking enough to sear their image indelibly into someone’s retinas. I like color. I like polka-dots.

And I have next to no true issue with my personal esteem; I haven’t ever, really. I wear what makes me happy.

If you can’t hide it, throw some glitter on it.

How do you use the word bedizen in a sentence?

Example: “Pascale was a walking billboard for bedizened confidence; sequined and embroidered from the tips of her toes to the ends if her hair.”