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Pomp vs Tinsel - What's the difference?

pomp | tinsel | Related terms |

As nouns the difference between pomp and tinsel

is that pomp is show of magnificence; parade; display; power while tinsel is a shining material used for ornamental purposes; especially, a very thin, gauzelike cloth with much gold or silver woven into it; also, very thin metal overlaid with a thin coating of gold or silver, brass foil, or the like.

As verbs the difference between pomp and tinsel

is that pomp is to make a pompous display; to conduct while tinsel is to adorn with tinsel; to deck out with cheap but showy ornaments; to make gaudy.

As an adjective tinsel is

glittering, later especially superficially so; gaudy, showy.

pomp

English

Noun

  • Show of magnificence; parade; display; power.
  • * 1698 . "A person of quality" [Pierre Nicole]. Moral Essayes, Contain'd in Several Treatises on Many Important Duties. Vol I, p95.
  • "'Tis a gross visible errour, which Tertullian teaches in his Book of Idolatry cap. 18. That all the marks of Dignity and Power, and all the ornaments annexed to Office, are forbid Christians, and that Jesus Christ hath plac'd all these things amongst the pomps of the Devil, since he himself appeared in a condition so far from all pomp and splendour."
  • * , Episode 12, The Cyclops
  • The deafening claps of thunder and the dazzling flashes of lightning which lit up the ghastly scene testified that the artillery of heaven had lent its supernatural pomp to the already gruesome spectacle.
  • A procession distinguished by ostentation and splendor; a pageant.
  • * Addison
  • all the pomps of a Roman triumph

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • (obsolete) To make a pompous display; to conduct.
  • (Ben Jonson)
    (Webster 1913)

    tinsel

    English

    Noun

    (-)
  • A shining material used for ornamental purposes; especially, a very thin, gauzelike cloth with much gold or silver woven into it; also, very thin metal overlaid with a thin coating of gold or silver, brass foil, or the like.
  • * :
  • Who can discern the tinsel from the gold?
  • * {{quote-book, year=1963, author=(Margery Allingham)
  • , title=(The China Governess) , chapter=Foreword citation , passage=He stood transfixed before the unaccustomed view of London at night time, a vast panorama which reminded him […] of some wood engravings far off and magical, in a printshop in his childhood. They dated from the previous century and were coarsely printed on tinted paper, with tinsel outlining the design.}}
  • Very thin strips of a glittering, metallic material used as a decoration, and traditionally, draped at Christmas time over streamers, paper chains and the branches of Christmas trees.
  • Anything shining and gaudy; something superficially shining and showy, or having a false luster, and more gay than valuable.
  • * :
  • O happy peasant! O unhappy bard! His the mere tinsel , hers the rich reward.

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • Glittering, later especially superficially so; gaudy, showy.
  • * 1590 , (Edmund Spenser), The Faerie Queene , III.1:
  • Her garments all were wrought of beaten gold, / And all her steed with tinsell trappings shone [...].

    Verb

  • To adorn with tinsel; to deck out with cheap but showy ornaments; to make gaudy.
  • * :
  • She, tinseled o'er in robes of varying hues.
  • (figuratively) To give a false sparkle to (something).
  • Derived terms

    * tinseled, tinselled * tinselly * Tinseltown

    See also

    * trimmings * trim up

    References

    *

    Anagrams

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