art deco n.

early 15c., "beautifying, made to remove or cover up blemishes," from Old French decoratif and directly from decorat-, past-participle stem of Latin decorare "to decorate, adorn, embellish, beautify," from decus (genitive decoris) "an ornament; grace, dignity, honor," from PIE root *dek- "to take, accept" (on the notion of "to add grace"). From 1791 as "of or pertaining to decoration, of an ornamental nature."