Noun
/pəˈrʊə(r)/
The word "parure" refers to a set of matching jewelry designed to be worn together. It typically includes pieces like necklaces, earrings, bracelets, and sometimes brooches that complement one another in style and design.
In the English language, "parure" is used primarily in contexts related to fashion, jewelry, and luxury items. It is more commonly found in written contexts, such as fashion magazines, catalogs, and historical texts discussing jewelry, than in everyday oral speech. The use of the word is relatively infrequent, making it more of a specialized term within specific domains.
The vintage parure she inherited from her grandmother sparkled beautifully at the gala.
(La parure vintage qu'elle a héritée de sa grand-mère brillait magnifiquement lors du gala.)
She wore a stunning parure that captivated everyone's attention at the charity event.
(Elle portait une parure éblouissante qui a captivé l'attention de tous lors de l'événement de bienfaisance.)
He surprised her with a diamond parure for their anniversary.
(Il l'a surprise avec une parure en diamants pour leur anniversaire.)
While "parure" itself is not a common word in idiomatic expressions, there are several phrases related to jewelry and adornment in general that convey similar themes. Here are some examples:
She arrived at the gala dressed to the nines, wearing her family parure.
(Elle est arrivée au gala habillée aux petits soins, portant sa parure familiale.)
All that glitters is not gold: This proverb suggests that not everything that looks valuable or attractive is actually valuable, often used when discussing superficial appearances, including jewelry.
Just because she flaunted that expensive parure doesn't mean she's truly wealthy; all that glitters is not gold.
(Ce n'est pas parce qu'elle exhibait cette parure coûteuse qu'elle est vraiment riche ; tout ce qui brille n'est pas or.)
Jewels in the crown: This expression refers to something prized or valuable, much like a prized piece of jewelry.
The term "parure" originates from the French word “parure,” which means “adornment” or “jewelry.” This in turn comes from the Latin word "parare," meaning "to prepare" or "to adorn.” The term has been adopted into English, retaining its specialized meaning.