Standard Lemma guide

parapherna

noun · 1 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

noun

Meaning 1

A woman's property which was not made a part of her marriage dower, but remained her own.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: Ancient-Rome, historical, plural, plural-only

Topics: law

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: paraphernalia, peculium

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

From Late Latin parapherna, from Ancient Greek παράφερνα (parápherna, “things additional to a dowry”), from παρα- (para-, “beside”) + φερνή (phernḗ, “dowry”). In the propertied classes, a dowry was placed under the control of the husband, while the 'paraphernalia' which she brought with her remained the wife’s property.