panoply

plural panoplies

1. A splendid display of something.First known use 1829

   Even though we cannot affirm that the products of mimesis are invested in the panoply of existence.

   1961, J. A. Philip, “Mimesis in the Sophistês of Plato,”, in Transactions and Proceedings of the American Philological Association, volume 92, page 459

   2 more examples

   To the south were the Varden and the men of Surda, entrenched behind multiple layers of defense, where they displayed a fine panoply of woven standards, ranks of proud tents, and the picketed horses of King Orrin's cavalry.

   2005, Christopher Paolini, “The Burning Plains”, in Eldest, page 581

   And you were waking / And day was breaking / A panoply of song / And summer comes to Springville Hill

   2011, The Decemberists, “June Hymn”, in The King Is Dead

2. broadlyhistoricalA collection or display of weaponry.
3. Ceremonial garments, complete with all accessories.
4. historicalA complete set of armour.First known use 1570s

   Stand then in His great Might, / With all His Strength endu'd, / And take, to arm you for the Fight / The Panoply of God; […]

   1742, Charles Wesley, The Whole Armour of God. Ephesians VI.

5. broadlySomething that covers and protects.

   [I]n short, sneering and fleering at him in her cold barren way; all which, however, he, the man he was, could receive on thick enough panoply, or even rebound therefrom, and also go his way.

   1837, Thomas Carlyle, The French Revolution: A History […], volume (please specify |volume=I to III), London: Chapman and Hall, →OCLC, (please specify the book or page number)

6. broadlyA broad or full range or complete set.

   Near-synonyms: plenitude, plentitude, plenty, cornucopia

   1 more example

   Indeed, for much of the Arab world, the Turkish term Seferberlik, which originally referred to conscription, has come to represent the panoply of civilian suffering in the Great War.

   2016 November, Eugene Rogan, “The First World War and its Legacy in the Middle East”, in Amal Ghazal, Jens Hanssen, editors, The Oxford Handbook of Contemporary Middle-Eastern and North African History, →DOI

   Synonyms: plenitude, plentitude, plenty, cornucopia

present singular third person panoplies · participle present panoplying · participle past panoplied · past panoplied

1. To fit out in a suit of armour
2. To array or bedeck