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Is there a single word for something that is subject to a decoration? Is it something like "decoree"?

EDIT: I want to give an explanation what I need this word for. I am currently developing a software that among other things renders text. Just think of something like LaTeX. Everything that is visible on screen is called a Box. These boxes can be "decorated" by adding accents, over- or underlines etc. Now I need variable names for the box that is decorated as well as the "subject" of the decoration. Because I have loads of these boxes, box is too ambiguous. I thought of "decoree" just as we call a program being debugged the debuggee. As I am not a native speaker, I was just wondering if there's a word that describes what I mean and doesn't sound weird to a native speaker who later reads my code.

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    I don't think you'll find a word, as the thing that is subject to decoration is quite typically identified by its name. A decorated tree will be referred to as, well, a tree. A decorated car is a car. So there is no need for something like decoree, and thus it does not exist. And since so many different things can be decorated, there is no hypernym for them, either. A car and a tree can only be summed up as stuff.
    – RegDwigнt
    Jun 7, 2014 at 17:46
  • Such things could both be figuratively referred to as canvases, but even allowing that such figurative use is common enough, it seems too much a stretch: A phrase could use canvas in such a way and have everything clear, but if I just said "I decorated several canvases" that would not be interpreted as "I decorated several things subject to decoration".
    – Jon Hanna
    Jun 7, 2014 at 18:08
  • A thing that is decorated is an embellished piece; using the term 'embellishment' is clearly understood by English native speakers. Axel, if you are requesting names for the style of embellishments, they exists too -good luck
    – Third News
    Jun 8, 2014 at 0:37
  • Come up with nonce words if you really need it. For example: decoratee or decoratable.
    – ermanen
    Jun 8, 2014 at 16:52
  • @ermanen: now that's it. Kris even added a reference to its usage in the programming world. Thanks a lot.
    – Axel
    Jun 8, 2014 at 21:06

4 Answers 4

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In the programming world, the term decoratee is in use.

Decorators are functions that wrap around other functions. This allows decorators to execute code before and after a function is called. A decorator takes a function object as an argument (which is called the decoratee) and returns a new function object that will be executed in its place. [Matt Johnson, Decorators in Python]

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Anything really can be subject to decoration. Wall, sheet of paper, a dress, a table, whatever. If you put the word ornate before any of these nouns one would gather that it is heavily decorated.

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I think it may be ornamented. You can use it for decorated items.

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The box was bedizened with an abundance of pink pearls and blue sapphires.

Dress up or decorate gaudily 'a uniform bedizened with resplendent medals'

Also see bedizenment.

That which bedizens.

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