clothe

verb

Etymology: 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, German kleiden, Swedish kläda, after apocope klä. See also cloth, clad.

1. To adorn or cover with clothing; to dress; to supply clothes or clothing.

   “to feed and clothe a family; to clothe oneself extravagantly”

   “Go with me to clothe you as becomes you.”

2. To cover or invest, as if with a garment.

   “to clothe somebody with authority or power”

   “language in which they can clothe their thoughts”