garb
- 01 C1 Advanced
n.a particular style of clothing, especially when it shows someone's job, rank, or role.
n.a distinctive style of dress or costume, often associated with a specific profession, social rank, or occasion.
Simple“The monks were dressed in their traditional brown garb for the ceremony.”
In context“The diplomat arrived in the traditional garb of his country, standing out among the sea of dark business suits.”
UsageUncountable when referring to a general style; countable when referring to a specific outfit.
- 02 C2 Proficiency
n.the way something or someone looks on the outside, which might hide their true nature.
n.an outward appearance or guise, often used figuratively to describe how an idea or person is presented.
Simple“The new law was presented in the garb of social reform.”
In context“The corporation attempted to hide its aggressive expansion under the garb of environmental sustainability.”
UsageUsually used with the preposition 'in the garb of'.
- 03 C2 Proficiency
v.to dress someone in a particular kind of clothing.
v.to clothe or array someone in a specific style of dress.
Simple“The actors were garbed in heavy velvet robes for the winter play.”
In context“The statues were garbed in silk banners to celebrate the city's founding anniversary.”
UsageFrequently used in the passive voice ('be garbed in').
From Middle French garbe ("graceful outline, silhouette"; > Modern French galbe), from Italian garbo (“grace, elegance”), from Germanic (compare Old High German garwi, garawi (“dress, equipment, preparation”), Middle High German gerwe (“outfitting, jewelry, clothing, robe, regalia”), modern German Gärbe, Gerbe and English gear), ultimately from Frankish garwijan (“to prepare”), from Proto-Germanic garwijaną (“to prepare”).
From Middle English garbe, from Old French garbe, variant of jarbe; akin to German Garbe. Doublet of gerbe.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.