Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of Gird?

\Gird\, n. [See {Yard} a measure.] 1. A stroke with a rod or switch; a severe spasm; a twinge; a pang. Conscience . . . is freed from many fearful girds and twinges which the atheist feels. --Tillotson. 2. A cut; a sarcastic remark; a gibe; a sneer. I thank thee for that gird, good Tranio. --Shak.
\Gird\, v. t. [See {Gird}, n., and cf. {Girde}, v.] 1. To strike; to smite. [Obs.] To slay him and to girden off his head. --Chaucer. 2. To sneer at; to mock; to gibe. Being moved, he will not spare to gird the gods. --Shak.
\Gird\, v. i. To gibe; to sneer; to break a scornful jest; to utter severe sarcasms. Men of all sorts take a pride to gird at me. --Shak.
\Gird\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Girt}or {Girded}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Girding}.] [OE. girden, gurden, AS. gyrdan; akin to OS. gurdian, D. gorden, OHG. gurten, G. g["u]rten, Icel. gyr?a, Sw. gjorda, Dan. giorde, Goth. biga['i]rdan to begird, and prob. to E. yard an inclosure. Cf. {Girth}, n. & v., {Girt}, v. t.] 1. To encircle or bind with any flexible band. 2. To make fast, as clothing, by binding with a cord, girdle, bandage, etc. 3. To surround; to encircle, or encompass. That Nyseian isle, Girt with the River Triton. --Milton. 4. To clothe; to swathe; to invest. I girded thee about with fine linen. --Ezek. xvi. 10. The Son . . . appeared Girt with omnipotence. --Milton. 5. To prepare; to make ready; to equip; as, to gird one's self for a contest. Thou hast girded me with strength. --Ps. xviii. 39. {To gird on}, to put on; to fasten around or to one securely, like a girdle; as, to gird on armor or a sword. Let not him that girdeth on his harness boast himself as he that putteth it off. --1 Kings xx. 11. {To gird up}, to bind tightly with a girdle; to support and strengthen, as with a girdle. He girded up his loins, and ran before Ahab. --1 Kings xviii. 46. Gird up the loins of your mind. --1 Pet. i. 13. {Girt up}; prepared or equipped, as for a journey or for work, in allusion to the ancient custom of gathering the long flowing garments into the girdle and tightening it before any exertion; hence, adjectively, eagerly or constantly active; strenuous; striving. ``A severer, more girt-up way of living.'' --J. C. Shairp.