utsmyckade

Utsmyckade is a Swedish term that functions as the past participle and as an adjective derived from the verb utsmycka, meaning to adorn or decorate outwardly. It describes objects, spaces, or works of art that have received ornamentation. The form is commonly used in architectural, artistic, and historical descriptions to indicate visible embellishment.

Etymology and forms: utsmycka combines ut- (outward, thoroughly) with smycka (ornament). The suffix -de marks the past participle in many Swedish verbs, yielding utsmyckade as a plural or past-tense form. The related adjective utsmyckad describes something adorned in the singular, and utsmyckat is used for neuter nouns.

Usage: The word appears in architecture, interior design, heraldry, fashion, and art criticism to convey that decoration has been applied. It can be used descriptively in neutral or evaluative contexts, depending on the surrounding language. In historical writing, it often highlights craftsmanship and lavish ornamentation.

Examples: Väggarna i slottet var utsmyckade med fresker. Den utsmyckade kyrkan i staden drog nyfikna besökare. Such usage emphasizes the decorative quality without making value judgments.

See also: smycka, utsmyckning, ornamentation.