Meanings
Synonyms & antonyms
nounA woman's property which was not made a part of her marriage dower, but remained her own.
Origin
- Ancient Greekπαράφερνα“things additional to a dowry”
- Late Latinparapherna
- Englishparapherna
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.
More words from Late Latin, Ancient Greek
Full word history & related roots →Cite this entry
parapherna. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/parapherna
“parapherna.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/parapherna. Accessed November 4, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “parapherna,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/parapherna.
Source: parapherna on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.