gird 1
— girdingly , adv.
/gerrd/ , v.t., girded or girt, girding .
1. to encircle or bind with a belt or band.
2. to surround; enclose; hem in.
3. to prepare (oneself) for action: He girded himself for the trial ahead.
4. to provide, equip, or invest, as with power or strength.
[ bef. 950; ME girden, OE gyrdan; c. G gürten ]
Syn. 3. brace, steel, fortify, strengthen.
gird 2
— girdingly , adv.
/gerrd/ , v.i.
1. to gibe; jeer (usually fol. by at ).
v.t.
2. to gibe or jeer at; taunt.
n.
3. a gibe.
[ 1175-1225; ME gyrd a stroke, blow, hence a cutting remark, deriv. of girden to strike, smite ]