Dress

Part of speech: noun, verb

Pronunciation: /dɹes/

Definitions

  1. An article of clothing worn to cover the body | A style of garment often associated with femininity or formal occasions | The act of putting on clothing or adorning oneself in a particular way
  2. A type of clothing typically designed to cover the body, especially associated with formal or feminine styles, as well as the action of putting on or arranging clothing
  3. A garment that varies in style and length, often worn by women, and also signifies the process of selecting and wearing attire

Etymology: The roots of this word trace back to the Old French term "dresser," which meant "to arrange, put in order, or prepare." This verb itself came into English around the late 13th century, initially carrying a broad sense of setting things right or making neat. The idea was not originally tied specifically to clothing but to the general act of arranging or preparing something. Over time, the meaning narrowed and specialized. By the late Middle English period, the term came to be associated particularly with preparing oneself or others by putting on clothes. This development likely reflected the importance of appearance and personal presentation in social contexts. Thus, the word began to encompass both the act of putting on garments and the garments themselves. The noun form, referring to a specific type of clothing—usually a woman's one-piece garment—emerged slightly later. It drew on the idea of something arranged or prepared for wearing. This shift from an action to the object of that action illustrates a common pattern in English, where verbs can evolve into nouns denoting the result or product of the verb’s activity. Interestingly, the verb’s original broader sense survives in phrases like "to dress a wound," meaning to prepare or treat it, and "to dress a table," meaning to arrange it neatly. These uses show how the core concept of "arranging" or "preparing" remains central, even as the word took on its more specialized meaning connected to clothing and appearance.

Synonyms: garment, outfit, attire, clothing

Antonyms: undress