attire

Reading level: hard

Estimated CEFR level: B2 — Upper-Intermediate

Estimated from word frequency; not an official CEFR classification.

Definition

  1. noun clothing of a distinctive style or for a particular occasion
  2. verb put on special clothes to appear particularly appealing and attractive

Etymology

The verb is from Middle English atyren, atiren, from Old French atirier (“to equip”), from a- + tire (“rank”), akin to German Zier (“ornament”) and Old Norse tírr (“glory, renown”). The noun is from Middle English atir, from the verb.

In classic literature

Synonyms

garb, dress

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