engirdle

A knight engirdles his sword with a leather belt.

Definition

1. Verb:
   • To encircle or surround: "engirdle" means to form a circle around something, to girdle or encompass.
   • To bind with a belt or band: In a more literal sense, it refers to fastening or encircling with a girdle (a belt or sash).

Usage Examples

• Verb:
  • The ancient wall used to engirdle the entire city. (The wall encircled the whole city.)
  • She engirdled her waist with a golden belt. (She bound her waist with a belt.)

Advanced Usage

• "to engirdle the globe": a poetic or formal expression meaning to encircle the entire Earth.

  • The equator engirdles the planet at its widest point. (The equator encircles the Earth.)

• "to engirdle with care": to surround or protect something with attention or caution.

  • The mother engirdled her child with her arms. (She encircled her child protectively.)

Variants and Related Words

• Engird (verb): a variant form meaning to encircle or surround.

  • The mountains engird the valley. (The mountains surround the valley.)

• Girdle (noun/verb): a belt or band; or the act of encircling.

  • She wore a leather girdle. (A belt around the waist.)

Synonyms

• Encircle: to form a circle around.
• Surround: to be all around something.
• Encompass: to include or surround entirely.
• Gird: to encircle with a belt or band.

Related Idioms

• Gird one's loins: to prepare oneself for action (related to the idea of binding with a girdle).
  • He girded his loins for the challenge ahead. (He prepared himself.)

Phrasal Verbs

• Engirdle about: to encircle or surround something.
  • The fence engirdles about the garden. (The fence surrounds the garden.)

Notes on Usage

• "Engirdle" is a rare and somewhat archaic word, primarily used in formal, poetic, or literary contexts. It is not common in everyday speech. Its meaning overlaps with "engird" and "girdle," but "engirdle" emphasizes the act of encircling or binding completely.