parapherna

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parapherna

Where it comes from

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.

noun

Ancient Rome, historical, plural, plural only A woman's property which was not made a part of her marriage dower, but remained her own.
Similar: paraphernalia, peculium

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MLA

"parapherna." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/parapherna. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026.

APA

parapherna. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/parapherna

Chicago

"parapherna." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/parapherna.

BibTeX

@misc{parapherna_2026,
  title = {parapherna},
  howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
  year = {2026},
  url = {https://micwyn.com/word/parapherna},
  urldate = {2026-11-06}
}