from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Gird \Gird\ (g[~e]rd), v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Girt}or {Girded}; p.
pr. & vb. n. {Girding}.] [OE. girden, gurden, AS. gyrdan;
akin to OS. gurdian, D. gorden, OHG. gurten, G. g["u]rten,
Icel. gyr[eth]a, Sw. gjorda, Dan. giorde, Goth. biga['i]rdan
to begird, and prob. to E. yard an inclosure. Cf. {Girth}, n.
& v., {Girt}, v. t.]
1. To encircle or bind with any flexible band.
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2. To make fast, as clothing, by binding with a cord, girdle,
bandage, etc.
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3. To surround; to encircle, or encompass.
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That Nyseian isle,
Girt with the River Triton. --Milton.
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4. To clothe; to swathe; to invest.
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I girded thee about with fine linen. --Ezek. xvi.
10.
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The Son . . . appeared
Girt with omnipotence. --Milton.
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5. To prepare; to make ready; to equip; as, to gird one's
self for a contest.
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Thou hast girded me with strength. --Ps. xviii.
39.
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{To gird on}, to put on; to fasten around or to one securely,
like a girdle; as, to gird on armor or a sword.
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Let not him that girdeth on his harness boast
himself as he that putteth it off. --1 Kings xx.
11.
{To gird up}, to bind tightly with a girdle; to support and
strengthen, as with a girdle.
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He girded up his loins, and ran before Ahab. --1
Kings xviii.
46.
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Gird up the loins of your mind. --1 Pet. i.
13.
{Girt up}; prepared or equipped, as for a journey or for
work, in allusion to the ancient custom of gathering the
long flowing garments into the girdle and tightening it
before any exertion; hence, adjectively, eagerly or
constantly active; strenuous; striving. "A severer, more
girt-up way of living." --J. C. Shairp.
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