What does meretricious ornamentation mean?

"Meretricious ornamentation" refers to decoration that is showy, flashy, and superficial, often intended to attract attention or deceive rather than being truly beautiful or valuable. It's a negative term implying that the ornamentation is cheap, gaudy, and lacking in substance.

Here's a breakdown:

* Meretricious: This word comes from the Latin "meretrix," meaning prostitute. It suggests something that is alluring or attractive on the surface but ultimately lacks genuine value or substance.

* Ornamentation: Refers to decorative elements or embellishments.

Examples:

* A building with meretricious ornamentation might have excessive gold leaf, plastic statues, and gaudy neon signs.

* A piece of writing with meretricious ornamentation might be filled with overused clichés, fancy vocabulary used inappropriately, and overly dramatic language.

In essence, meretricious ornamentation is all about outward appearances and superficial appeal, lacking genuine beauty, quality, or intellectual depth.