different between unreal vs gewgaw

English

Etymology

un- +? real

Pronunciation

• enPR: ?n-r?l', IPA^(key): /?n??i.?l/
• Rhymes: -i??l

Adjective

unreal (comparative more unreal, superlative most unreal)

1. fake; not real
   • 1922, Margery Williams, The Velveteen Rabbit

     "The Boy's Uncle made me Real," he said. "That was a great many years ago; but once you are Real you can't become unreal again. It lasts for always."

2. (informal) very impressive; amazing; unbelievable; incredible; larger or more fantastic than typical of real life.

   The video includes unreal footage of an eight-metre wave.

   I just had an unreal hamburger.

Synonyms

• (not real): See also Thesaurus:fake or Thesaurus:insubstantial
• (very impressive): See also Thesaurus:awesome

Antonyms

• (not real): real; See also Thesaurus:genuine

Translations

Anagrams

• Lauren, neural, ulnare

English

Alternative forms

• geegaw
• gew-gaw

Etymology

From earlier gugaw, gygaw, from Middle English givegove (“gewgaw, trifle”), a reduplication of Middle English give, geove (“gift”), from Old English giefu, geofu, geafu (“gift”), from Proto-Germanic *geb? (“gift”). Compare Icelandic gyligjöf (“showy gifts, gewgaw”). More at give.

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /??ju????/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /??u??/
  • (US) (cot-caught merger)

Noun

gewgaw (plural gewgaws)

1. A showy trifle, a toy; a showy trinket, ornament or decoration. [from 15th c.]

   • A heavy gewgaw called a crown.

   • 1951, Isaac Asimov, Foundation (1974 Panther Books Ltd publication), part V: “The Merchant Princes”, chapter 11, page 163, ¶¶ 2–4:

     “I am not of the neighbourhood,” said Mallow, calmly, “but the matter is irrelevant. I have had the honour to send you a little gift yesterday?——” [¶] The tech-man’s nose lifted. “I received it. An interesting gewgaw. I may have use for it on occasion.” [¶] I have other and more interesting gifts. Quite out of the gewgaw stage.”

   • 2011, Will Self, "The frowniest spot on Earth", London Review of Books, XXXIII.9:

     You or I may well view our desire to push buttons and order new electronic gewgaws as the mere reflex spasms of consumerism, but to this dynamic duo the future of the earth depends on our instant gratification more than anything else.

Translations

Adjective

gewgaw (not comparable)

1. Showy; unreal; pretentious.
   • 1678, Dryden, John, All for Love, Scene II,

     The rattle of a globe to play withal,

     This gewgaw world, and put him cheaply off;

   • 1855, Alfred, Lord Tennyson, Maud; A Monodrama, X, stanza 1,

     Seeing his gewgaw castle shine,

     New as his title, built last year.

Synonyms

• gewgawish

Derived terms

• Jew's harp (possibly)