Do you know what tittivate means?

[PCPlumsTruncheon]

Very very long backstory but my DM and DF went to visit DD today and then came to see me and told me that DD had planned a morning of tittivating as she was going to a wedding reception but her plans were thwarted by the water being cut off.
I am a bit of a grammar/spelling geek but had genuinely never heard of this word and thought that DM was getting it mixed up with ‘tittilate’.
How many of you (without Googling) know what this word means?

[MrsAukerman]

Means tart up / grooming. Stuff like doing your nails, good blow dry, make up etc.

[Sadoldbagpuss]

Yes, spruce yourself up. Didn't think it was unusual.

[MrsAukerman]

Like fiddly with personal appearance to the point of perfection.

[TillyTheTiger]

Yep - faffing about with makeup and hair etc.

[villainousbroodmare]

As above, think no double t though.

[Katedotness1963]

Yes, I know what it means.

[HirplesWithHaggis]

Sorry, OP, I also know what "tittivating" means (though my spellcheck doesn't, and as villainous says, unsure about the double t)

"Tittilate" is utterly different, with a sexual undertone.

[stellabird]

Yes, I know it. My mother used that to describe someone getting ready to go out - makeup, hair etc. Making yourself look good.

[YreneTowers]

My mum used to 'titivate the living room' which meant flick around with a duster and carefully arrange the scatter cushions so they were artfully placed in a way which appeared random...

She'd also ask me to titivate the buffet table before guests arrived for a party.

To me, it means spend time making pointless tiny adjustments to the presentation of something, which most people would be unlikely to notice.

[StealthPolarBear]

Yes, priming. quite old fashioned imo

[UrsulaPandress]

Yup

[SoyDora]

Yes I do, but pretty sure it is ‘titivate’

[strawberrisc]

Am I wrong in thinking it’s a Northern phrase? The older members of my family use it all the time. Usually negatively: “Ooh look at her titivating herself again. I wish I had time to titivate” (Read in a Vera Duckworth accent!)

[LoveObject]

Yes, and you’ve spent it wrong. And ‘titillating’.

But maybe that was to try to ensure people didn’t google...?

[Cel982]

Yes, I know the word. First came across it in a book where a group of girls are getting ready for a party... I want to say it's Little Women but not 100% sure... Maybe one of the Katy books?

[NancyJoan]

I wouldn’t use it to refer to make-up/grooming (though that’s correct), but I might refer to titivating a flower arrangement or the sitting room.

[amymel2016]

Yup, my Mum uses it all the time

[ProfYaffle]

Yep - I know what it means.

[Coolaschmoola]

I know what it means, and I use it.

[Q1w2e3]

I know this from the Enid Blyton Mistletoe farm books where the country cousins look down on towny Melisande for always titivating. I’m sure it’s one t. From this I always had quite a negative connotation for the word, I thought it meant being quite vain & spending too much time getting ready.

[Chrisinthemorning]

Yes, and I use it all the time. Yorkshire.
I use it at work when I’m just polishing etc.

[Harrykanesrightsock]

Yep my mum used to say it to us. Actually I haven’t heard it in a long time, but now remember it was a word that made me cringe. No idea why.

[LoniceraJaponica]

I think it is an old fashioned word that you don't hear very much these days.

[ThroughThickAndThin01]

I knew. Agree it’s a bit old fashioned.

[ConkerTriumphant]

I use it!