I. ˈrōb noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English, from Old French, robe, booty, of Germanic origin; akin to Old English rēaf garment, armor, booty, Old High German roub booty, roubōn to rob — more at reave
1.
a. : a long loose outer garment cut in flowing lines and used for ordinary wear by men and women during the middle ages and in modern times especially in Asian and African countries
supply purple robes for the courtiers — Connop Thirlwall
the Indians wove their own heavy cotton robes — C.B.Hitchcock
b. : a similar garment often of special or elegant style and material used for state, ceremonial, and official occasions or as a symbol of office or profession
the Sovereign has … been invested with the Royal Robe of cloth of gold in which he is crowned — L.E.Fanner
the judge was already rising and arranging his robes — Frances P. Keyes
c. : a usually loose wraparound garment of varying length for informal wear especially at home (as a bathrobe or dressing gown)
found him … wearing a natty red lounging robe and white pajamas — New Yorker
the girls … have beach robes and hats — Bernard De Voto
2. : something resembling or suggesting a long loose enveloping garment
a vast and fruitful land … clad with a robe of plants — Russell Lord
the glorious congregation of peaks … in their robes of snow and light — John Muir †1914
shed your robe of sanctity — Rafael Sabatini
3. : the legal profession — usually used with preceding the
the cadets of many of our good families follow the robe as a profession — W.M.Thackeray
4.
a. : a covering for the lower body made from pelts finished with the fur on the top side and often a lining of fabric on the underside that resembles a blanket and is used while driving or at outdoor events — see buffalo robe , lap robe
b. : a similar covering of fabric
warm woolen auto robes
5. : wardrobe
double-door cedar robes — advt
II. verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Middle English roben, from robe, n.
transitive verb
1. : to clothe or invest with a robe
helped to robe him in … a quilted robe of scarlet silk — Nora Waln
bathers must immediately robe themselves upon leaving the water — Time
2. : to dress or cover as if with a robe
robes himself in moonlight — John Foster
love robed her in a blush — T.T.Lynch
intransitive verb
: to put on a robe
in the early morning, he robed … and drove abroad — Mary Lindsay