Clothe

Pronunciation

• RP IPA: /ˈkləʊð/
• GenAm IPA: /ˈkloʊð/
• Rhymes: -əʊð

Origin

From Middle English clothen, from Old English clāþian ("to clothe"), from Proto-Germanic *klaiþōną ("to clothe"), from Proto-Indo-European *gley- ("to adhere to, stick"). Cognate with Dutch kleden and German kleiden. See also cloth, clad.

Full definition of clothe

Verb

1. (transitive) To adorn or cover with clothing; to dress; to supply clothes or clothing.to feed and clothe a family; to clothe oneself extravagantly
• ShakespeareGo with me, to clothe you as becomes you.
• Bible, Proverbs xxiii. 21Drowsiness shall clothe a man with rags.
• GoldsmithThe naked every day he clad,
  When he put on his clothes.
2. (figurative) To cover or invest, as if with a garment.to clothe somebody with authority or power
• Wattslanguage in which they can clothe their thoughts
• J. DyerHis sides are clothed with waving wood.
• Miltonwords clothed in reason's garb