Standard Lemma guide

begird

verb · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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  • rhymes with -ɜː(ɹ)d

1

verb

Meaning 1

To bind with a band or girdle; to gird.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: archaic, transitive

Examples

  • 1876, William Morris (translator), The Æneids of Virgil, London: Ellis & White, Book 5, line 364, p. 130, Let him come forth to raise his arm with hide-begirded hand.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

To encircle, surround, as with a gird; enclose; encompass.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: archaic, transitive

Examples

  • 1717, Arthur Maynwaring (translator), Ovid’s Metamorphoses in Fifteen Books, London: Jacob Tonson, Book 5, “The Story of Perseus continu’d,” p. 148, Perseus begirt, from all around they pour Their Lances on him, a tempestuous Show’r, Aim’d all at him [...]

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

From Middle English begirden, from Old English begyrdan (“to gird, clothe, surround, fortify”), from Proto-Germanic *bi- + *gurdijaną (“to gird”), equivalent to be- + gird. Cognate with Old High German begurtjan (“to begird”), Gothic 𐌱𐌹𐌲𐌰𐌹𐍂𐌳𐌰𐌽 (bigairdan, “to begird”). More at be-, gird.

Across languages

Translations

6 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Bulgarian: опасвам (opasvam) — bind with a band or girdle
  • Bulgarian: запасвам (zapasvam) — bind with a band or girdle
  • Dutch: omringen — bind with a band or girdle
  • Dutch: omsingelen — bind with a band or girdle
  • Ottoman Turkish: صارمق (sarmak) — bind with a band or girdle
  • Ottoman Turkish: صارمق (sarmak) — encircle