clothed
clothed — verb
1. to put garments on someone, or to supply someone with garments to wear
to put garments on someone, or to supply someone with garments to wear
Nia carefully clothed her little brother in a blue cotton shirt before school.
clothe + someone + in + garment
The shelter clothes and feeds about forty families every winter in Manchester.
subject: institution; transitive
The bride was clothed in a long silk gown her grandmother had sewn.
Kabir clothed himself quickly and rushed out to catch the morning bus.
文法句型
clothe + someone + in + [garment]
be clothed in + [garment]
clothe + oneself
用法筆記
Frequently passive; in active form, the subject is usually a person or an organisation that provides garments. Less common in everyday spoken English than 'dress' — favours formal or written contexts.
常見錯誤
2. to express a thought or feeling using a particular style of language, so that th
to express a thought or feeling using a particular style of language, so that the words match the importance of the idea
Eleni clothed her warning in gentle words so the children would not feel afraid.
clothe + [idea] + in + [style of language]
The judge clothed her ruling in careful legal language that left no room for doubt.
subject: speaker/writer; abstract object
The president's apology was clothed in vague phrases that pleased almost no one.
Joshua clothed his complaint in polite language to avoid upsetting his manager.
文法句型
clothe + [idea] + in + [type of language]
be clothed in + [style]
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 1: the object here is an abstract noun (warning, ruling, apology, idea), not a person. Almost always followed by 'in' and a noun phrase describing the style of language used.
常見錯誤
3. to give someone an official power, right, or special quality, often through a fo
to give someone an official power, right, or special quality, often through a formal action
The new law clothes local mayors with authority over school budgets in their towns.
clothe + someone + with + power
Anna was clothed with full power to sign contracts while the director was abroad.
passive: be clothed with + authority
The old ceremony clothed the young king with the dignity of his ancestors.
The court clothed the inspectors with the right to enter any factory without warning.
- strip
to take away a power or right that was formally given
文法句型
clothe + someone + with + [power/quality]
be clothed with + authority
用法筆記
Subject is usually a law, ceremony, or formal action; object is a person or role receiving the power. Distinguish from sense 2: this sense uses 'with' and the object is the recipient of a power, not a thought being expressed.
常見錯誤
clothed — adjective
1. having clothes on the body, especially in a way that can be described (such as t
having clothes on the body, especially in a way that can be described (such as the colour or the type of garment)
Hoa stepped onto the stage clothed in a bright yellow dress and matching shoes.
clothed in + [garment/colour]
The hikers were warmly clothed against the cold wind on the mountain pass.
adverb + clothed (warmly / fully / partly)
The man was found in the river, still fully clothed and wearing his work boots.
Tamar arrived at the party clothed in black from head to toe.
文法句型
be clothed in + [garment/colour]
fully/partly/warmly clothed
用法筆記
Almost always used after a linking verb (be, look, stay, find) rather than before a noun. Common in news reports and descriptive writing; 'dressed' is the everyday alternative.