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Colorfully Meaning: Definition, Examples, and Translations

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colorfully

[ˈkʌlərfəlɪ ]

Definition

Context #1 | Adverb

descriptive quality

In a way that is bright and vivid, often through the use of various colors. This term is frequently used to describe art, fashion, and nature that exhibit a lively and striking appearance.

Synonyms

brightly, strikingly, vibrantly, vividly.

Examples of usage

  • The room was decorated colorfully with vibrant paintings.
  • She dressed colorfully for the summer festival.
  • The birds in the jungle flew colorfully amongst the lush foliage.

Translations

To see the translation, please select a language from the options available.

Interesting Facts

Psychology

  • Bright colors in environments can influence mood, often making people feel happier or more energetic.
  • Colorful visuals are known to help with memory retention because they capture attention better than dull colors.

Art

  • Colorful paintings, such as those by Van Gogh, evoke emotions and can tell stories using color alone.
  • Artists often use vibrant colors intentionally to convey feelings or highlight important parts of their artwork.

Nature

  • In nature, many animals and plants exhibit colorful traits as a way to attract mates or warnings predators.
  • Coral reefs are often described as colorful ecosystems because of the diverse colors of plants and sea life found there.

Cultural Significance

  • Colorfulness is celebrated in many festivals worldwide, such as Holi in India, where vibrant colors play a central role.
  • In certain cultures, specific colors carry unique meanings, like red symbolizing good fortune in China.

Origin of 'colorfully'

Main points about word origin

  • The word comes from the root 'color', which has Latin origins in 'colorare', meaning to color or make colorfully.
  • The '-fully' suffix means 'in a way that is full of', so together, it means to be full of color.

The word 'colorfully' is derived from the adjective 'colorful', which originated in the mid-19th century. The roots of the word can be traced back to the Latin word 'color', which means 'color' or 'hue'. This Latin root entered the Old French language as 'colur', which then transitioned into Middle English as 'color'. The adverbial form 'colorfully' adopts the typical English suffix '-ly', which is used to convert adjectives into adverbs. This process of word formation allows adjectives to describe how actions are performed. As such, 'colorfully' has come to describe actions or states that embody vividness, brightness, or richness in color. Its usage has expanded in modern English to encompass not just literal colors but also metaphorical applications where vibrancy and liveliness are paramount.

Word Frequency Rank

This word's position of #33,432 indicates it's among the more rare English words. While understanding it broadens your vocabulary, focus on more common words first.