appurtenances
Appurtenances (noun) means the smaller items, accessories or equipment that go along with something larger and are needed to use it properly. Example: “He arrived with a tent, a stove and all the other appurtenances of a long hike.”
How to use appurtenances
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe extra bits and pieces that come with something.
Formal or legal. In everyday speech people say accessories, extras or trappings instead.
It is almost always plural, and in property documents it means rights attached to the land, not objects you can pick up.
Trace the full origin ↓Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
He arrived with a tent, a stove and all the other _____ of a long hike.
Etymology
From Anglo-Norman and Old French apartenance, from Latin appertinere 'to belong to', from ad- 'to' plus pertinere 'to pertain'.
Synonyms
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Rhymes for appurtenances
See all rhymes for appurtenances →Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between an appurtenance and a fixture?
A fixture is a physical item attached to the building itself, such as a fitted boiler or a bathroom sink. An appurtenance is broader: it covers anything that belongs to the property and passes with it, including intangible rights like an easement or a right of way.
Is appurtenances ever singular?
Yes, appurtenance is the correct singular, though it is rare outside legal writing. In general use the word almost always appears in the plural.
What is the meaning of appurtenances?
"appurtenances" (noun) means the smaller items, accessories or equipment that go along with something larger and are needed to use it properly.
What is another word for appurtenances?
Other words for "appurtenances" include accessories, trappings, paraphernalia, fittings, accoutrements.