It makes sure that the field name argument is not empty, and that the field specified there is an actual existing field in the class which declares the method decorated with this attribute.
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Decorate — Dec o*rate (d[e^]k [ o]*r[=a]t), v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Decorated} (d[e^]k [ o]*r[=a] t[e^]d); p. pr. & vb. n. {Decorating} (d[e^]k [ o]*r[=a] t[i^]ng).] [L. decoratus, p. p. of decorare, fr. decus ornament; akin to decere to be becoming. See… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
decorate — [dek′ə rāt΄] vt. decorated, decorating [< L decoratus, pp. of decorare, to decorate < decus, an ornament < IE base * dek̑, to receive, be suitable > DECENT] 1. to add something to so as to make more attractive; adorn; ornament 2. to… … English World dictionary
decorate — (v.) early 15c., from L. decoratus, pp. of decorare to decorate, adorn, embellish, beautify, from decus (gen. decoris) an ornament, from PIE root *dek to receive, be suitable (see DECENT (Cf. decent)). Related: Decorated; decorating … Etymology dictionary
decorate — [v1] beautify, embellish add finishing touches, adorn, bedeck, bedizen, brighten, burnish, color, deck, do up*, dress out*, dress up*, enhance, enrich, festoon, finish, fix up, frill, furbish, garnish, gild, grace, gussy up*, idealize, illuminate … New thesaurus
decorate — index embellish, honor Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton. 2006 … Law dictionary
decorate — ornament, embellish, beautify, *adorn, deck, bedeck, garnish Analogous words: enhance, heighten, *intensify … New Dictionary of Synonyms
decorate — ► VERB 1) make more attractive by adding ornamentation. 2) apply paint or wallpaper to. 3) confer an award or medal on. 4) (Decorated) denoting a stage of English Gothic church architecture of the 14th century with elaborate tracery. ORIGIN Latin … English terms dictionary
decorate — [[t]de̱kəreɪt[/t]] ♦♦♦ decorates, decorating, decorated 1) VERB If you decorate something, you make it more attractive by adding things to it. [V n with n] He decorated his room with pictures of all his favorite sports figures... [V n] Simply… … English dictionary
decorate — v. (D; tr.) ( to give a medal to ) to decorate for (to decorate a soldier for valor) * * * [ dekəreɪt] (D;tr.) ( to give a medal to ) to decorate for (to decorate a soldier for valor) … Combinatory dictionary
decorate */*/ — UK [ˈdekəreɪt] / US [ˈdekəˌreɪt] verb Word forms decorate : present tense I/you/we/they decorate he/she/it decorates present participle decorating past tense decorated past participle decorated 1) a) [transitive] to make something look more… … English dictionary
decorate — dec|o|rate S3 [ˈdekəreıt] v [Date: 1500 1600; : Latin; Origin: decoratus, past participle of decorare to decorate , from decus honour, decoration ] 1.) [I and T] BrE to paint the inside of a room, put special paper on the walls etc ▪ The bathroom … Dictionary of contemporary English
