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panoply

noun pan·o·ply \ ˈpa-nə-plē \
|Updated on: 9 Jun 2018

Definition of panoply

plural panoplies
1 a : a full suit of armor
  • Knights in panoply were ready for battle.
b : ceremonial attire
  • The nobles were in panoply for the coronation.
2 : something forming a protective covering
  • faces dim in a panoply of smoke
  • —William Baucke
3 a : a magnificent or impressive array
  • the full panoply of a military funeral
  • woods … in their full panoply of autumn foliage
  • —S. P. B. Mais
b : a display of all appropriate appurtenances
  • no need for the panoply of power
  • windows … beyond which the usual panoply of modern mechanical conveniences can brazenly flourish
  • —Lewis Mumford

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Recent Examples of panoply from the Web

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Did You Know?

Panoply comes from the Greek word panoplia, which referred to the full suit of armor worn by "hoplites," heavily armed infantry soldiers of ancient Greece. "Panoplia" is a blend of the prefix pan-, meaning "all," and hopla, meaning "arms" or "armor." (As you may have guessed already, "hopla" is also an ancestor of "hoplite.") "Panoply" entered the English language in the 17th century, and since then it has developed other senses which extend both the "armor" and the "full set" aspects of its original use.

Origin and Etymology of panoply

Greek panoplia, from pan- + hopla arms, armor, plural of hoplon tool, weapon — more at hoplite

Other History Terms

agonistic, carpetbagger, enceinte, fief, historiography, paladin

PANOPLY Defined for English Language Learners

panoply

noun

Definition of panoply for English Language Learners

  • : a group or collection that is impressive because it is so big or because it includes so many different kinds of people or things

Learn More about panoply

  1. Nglish: Translation of panoply for Spanish speakers

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