apparel English · revision 1202

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /əˈpæɹəl/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It comes from Middle English ''appareil'',^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) [[der|fro|apareil|t=preparation; dress]],^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) from ''apareillier'' “to prepare, make ready, fit out”,^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(RHWU) [[der|la-vul|*appariculare]].^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) This is either from [[la|apparare|t=to prepare]],^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate) the source of [[apparatus]],^(AHD)^(Etymonline) or from a diminutive of [[la|par|t=equal]], giving a sense “to make fit, join like to like”.^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(RHWU)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ As a verb, to make ready or prepare (about 1250);^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline) as a noun, equipment, armour or the rigging of a ship (1330).^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Both noun and verb began with the general idea of preparing and equipping, and narrowed to clothing,^(Etymonline) as French ''habiller'' “to dress” did.^(Etymonline) The verb meant to dress in proper clothing from 1362,^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline) and the noun, a person's attire, from the late 14th century.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) The OED notes that both are now somewhat archaic in everyday speech,^(OED 1989) though the noun is common in commerce for clothing.^(AHD)^(RHWU)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * about 1250 – verb, to prepare or fit out.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1330 – noun, equipment; a ship's rigging; clothing.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1362 – verb, to dress.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1377 – noun, appearance, aspect.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # [[clothing|alt=Clothing]], especially outer garments; [[attire]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Something that covers or adorns.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)

+ # The [[mast|alt=masts]], sails and [[rigging]] of a ship.^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # An ornamental piece of [[embroidery]] on certain church [[vestment|alt=vestments]].^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To dress or clothe.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # To adorn or embellish.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[unappareled]]

+ * [[wearing apparel]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[apparatus]]

+ * [[prepare]]

+ * [[dress]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ Random House lists ''clothes'', ''dress'', ''garb'', ''costume'', ''habiliments'' and ''vesture'' as synonyms of the noun.^(RHWU)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}