Middle English edit

Alternative forms edit

Etymology edit

From Old English clāþian, from Proto-Germanic *klaiþōną, from Proto-Indo-European *gley-; equivalent to cloth +‎ -en (infinitival suffix).

Pronunciation edit

  • IPA(key): /ˈklɔːðən/, /ˈklɔːðiən/

Verb edit

clothen

  1. (transitive, intransitive, reflexive) To clothe; to put clothing on (oneself, another).
  2. (transitive, reflexive) To furnish with clothes.
  3. (transitive) To enclose or surround.
  4. (transitive) To secrete or hide; to stash away.
  5. (transitive) To disguise oneself; to hide one's nature.
  6. (reflexive) To gain a trait; to immerse in an abstract quantity.
    • c. 1395, John Wycliffe, John Purvey [et al.], transl., Bible (Wycliffite Bible (later version), MS Lich 10.)‎[1], published c. 1410, Coꝛinthis ·i· 15:54, page 67v, column 1; republished as Wycliffe's translation of the New Testament, Lichfield: Bill Endres, 2010:
      / but whanne þis dedli þing ſchal cloþe vndedlyneſſe .· þanne ſchal þe woꝛd be doon þat is writen / deþ is ſopun up in victoꝛie
      But when this mortal thing acquires immortality, then the saying that's been recorded will happen: "Death has been swallowed up in victory!"
  7. (transitive, intransitive) To decorate or ornament.
  8. (rare, intransitive) To be furnished with clothes.
  9. (rare, transitive) To use or utilise.

Conjugation edit

Descendants edit

  • English: clothe

References edit