begird

The knight begirds his waist with a leather belt.

Definition

1. Verb (transitive, archaic):
   • To encircle or surround: "begird" means to bind or gird around, typically with a belt or band, or to encompass something completely.
   • To prepare or equip: In a figurative sense, it can mean to gird oneself for action, as in preparing for a task or challenge.

Usage Examples

• Literal:

  • The knight begirt his waist with a sturdy leather belt. (He encircled his waist with a belt.)
  • The fortress was begirt by a deep moat. (The fortress was surrounded by a moat.)

• Figurative:

  • He begirt himself for the arduous journey ahead. (He prepared himself mentally and physically for the difficult journey.)

Advanced Usage

• "to begird with": to surround or encircle with something specific.

  • The ancient city was begirt with high walls. (The city was completely enclosed by walls.)

• "to begird about": to bind or fasten around an object.

  • The sailor begirt the cargo about the mast. (The sailor tied the cargo securely around the mast.)

Variants and Related Words

• Begirt (verb, past tense/participle): the past form of "begird", meaning having been encircled or girded.

  • The warrior, begirt with armor, stood ready for battle. (The warrior, surrounded by armor, was prepared.)

• Gird (verb): a simpler, more common word meaning to encircle or prepare.

  • She girded her waist with a sash. (She bound a sash around her waist.)

Synonyms

• Encircle: to form a circle around; surround.
• Encompass: to surround and hold within; include comprehensively.
• Engird: a less common synonym meaning to encircle, often used in poetry or formal writing.
• Surround: to be all around something or someone.

Related Idioms

• Gird one’s loins: to prepare oneself for something difficult or challenging. (This idiom is derived from the same root as "begird".)
  • The team girded their loins for the final exam. (They prepared themselves mentally and emotionally.)

Phrasal Verbs

• Begird up: to fasten or tie up securely (rare).
  • The farmer begirt up the hay bales with rope. (He tied the bales tightly.)

Etymology Note

• "Begird" comes from Old English , meaning "to gird about." It is composed of the prefix be- (meaning "around, about") and gird (to encircle with a belt). The word is now considered archaic and is rarely used in modern English, except in poetic or historical contexts.