In the hall were pillars which looked as if they were made of brawn, and arches with lozenges of azure paint in which golden stars appeared rather meretriciously.
"The Woman With The Fan"
Robert Hichens
Two towers meretriciously mosaiced with coloured tiles balanced the centre of the higher and middle building, and a portico of iron and glass, ornate yet banal as the architecture of a railway station, protected the carpeted steps and the three large doors which were grouped closely together, doors through which people constantly passed in and out like bees at the entrance to a hive.
"The Guests Of Hercules"
C. N. Williamson and A. M. Williamson
In former days, whenever I met a young musician who had come in contact with Mendelssohn, I learnt that the master had admonished him not to think of effect when composing, and to avoid everything that might prove meretriciously impressive.
"On Conducting (Ueber das Dirigiren): A Treatise on Style in the Execution of Classical Music"
Richard Wagner (translated by Edward Dannreuther)
