titivate

1

or tit·ti·vate

[ tit-uh-veyt ]
/ ˈtɪt əˌveɪt /

verb (used with object), tit·i·vat·ed, tit·i·vat·ing.

to make smart or spruce: She titivated her old dress with a new belt.

verb (used without object), tit·i·vat·ed, tit·i·vat·ing.

to make oneself smart or spruce.

Origin of titivate

1
1795–1805; earlier tidivate ( tidy + (ele)vate; i.e., tidy up)

OTHER WORDS FROM titivate

tit·i·va·tion, noun tit·i·va·tor, noun

Definition for titivate (2 of 2)

titivate 2
[ tit-uh-veyt ]
/ ˈtɪt əˌveɪt /

verb (used with object), tit·i·vat·ed, tit·i·vat·ing.

Origin of titivate

2
First recorded in 1910–15; by erroneous association

Example sentences from the Web for titivate

  • They said that when he saw the shearers coming he'd say, "Run and titivate yourself, Mary; here comes the shearers!"

    Children of the Bush |Henry Lawson
  • You titivate yourself, and we'll dine at the Savoy, or anywhere you please.

    Tales of the Five Towns |Arnold Bennett
  • Gravely and calmly he draws brushes and so on from a receptacle under the box-seat, and commences to titivate himself.

    Brighter Britain! (Volume 1 of 2) |William Delisle Hay
  • I'll give them half an hour's study whilst you wash up the tea things and titivate.

    Mrs. Warren's Daughter |Sir Harry Johnston

British Dictionary definitions for titivate

titivate

tittivate

/ (ˈtɪtɪˌveɪt) /

verb

to smarten up (oneself or another), as by making up, doing the hair, etc
(tr) to smarten up (a thing) to titivate a restaurant

Derived forms of titivate

titivation or tittivation, noun titivator or tittivator, noun

Word Origin for titivate

C19: earlier tidivate, perhaps based on tidy and cultivate