different between bathe vs douse

English

Etymology

From Middle English bathen, from Old English baþian (“to bathe, wash”), from Proto-Germanic *baþ?n? (“to bathe”), from Proto-Indo-European *b?eh?- (“to warm”). Cognate with Saterland Frisian boadje (“to bathe”), Dutch baden (“to bathe”), German Low German baden (“to bathe”), Danish bade (“to bathe”), Swedish bada (“to bathe”), Icelandic baða (“to bathe”). More at bath. Compare also bask.

Pronunciation

• enPR: b?th, IPA^(key): /be?ð/
• Rhymes: -e?ð

Verb

bathe (third-person singular simple present bathes, present participle bathing, simple past and past participle bathed)

1. (intransitive) To clean oneself by immersion in water or using water; to take a bath, have a bath.
2. (intransitive) To immerse oneself, or part of the body, in water for pleasure or refreshment; to swim.
3. (transitive) To clean a person by immersion in water or using water; to give someone a bath.

   We bathe our baby before going to bed; other parents do it in the morning if they have time.

4. (transitive) To apply water or other liquid to; to suffuse or cover with liquid.

   She bathed her eyes with liquid to remove the stinging chemical.

   The nurse bathed his wound with a sponge.

   The incoming tides bathed the coral reef.

5. (figuratively, transitive and intransitive) To cover or surround.

   The room was bathed in moonlight.

   A dense fog bathed the city streets.
6. (intransitive) To sunbathe.

   The women bathed in the sun.

Derived terms

Related terms

• bath

Translations

Noun

bathe (plural bathes)

1. (Britain, colloquial) The act of swimming or bathing, especially in the sea, a lake, or a river; a swimming bath.

   I'm going to have a midnight bathe tonight.

Translations

Anagrams

• beath, behat

Middle English

Etymology 1

From Old English b? þ?.

Determiner

bathe

1. Alternative form of bothe (“both”)

Conjunction

bathe

1. Alternative form of bothe (“both”)

Etymology 2

From Old English baþian.

Verb

bathe

1. Alternative form of bathen

English

Pronunciation

• enPR: daus, IPA^(key): /da?s/
• Rhymes: -a?s

Etymology 1

Probably of North Germanic origin, related to Swedish dunsa (“to plumb down, fall clumsily”), Danish dunse (“to thump”). Compare Old English dw?s?an (“to extinguish”) and douse below.

Alternative forms

• dowse, douze, douce, dause (all obsolete or nonstandard)

Verb

douse (third-person singular simple present douses, present participle dousing, simple past and past participle doused)

2. (transitive, intransitive) To plunge suddenly into water; to duck; to immerse.
3. (intransitive) To fall suddenly into water.
4. (transitive) To put out; to extinguish.
   • 1999, Arthur D. Jacobs, The Prison Called Hohenasperg

     The man who doused the fire was told to put the remainder of the coal into the bucket and then give the bucket to the soldier.

   • Kelly Henderson, Your Mythic Spirit Guide: Spirituality for a Creative Life

     Once you feel confident in your visualizations, you may douse the candle by blowing it out.

Translations

Noun

douse (plural douses)

1. A sudden plunging into water.
   • 1911, Cyphers Series on Practical Poultry Keeping (issue 1, page 74)

     In winter a douse in cold water helps the looks and adds to the style of the carcass, but they should be thoroughly dried before packing.

Etymology 2

From Middle English duschen, dusshen (“to rush, fall”), related to Norwegian dusa (“to break, cast down from”), Old Dutch doesen (“to beat, strike”), dialectal German tusen, dusen (“to strike, run against, collide”), Saterland Frisian dössen (“to strike”). Compare doss, dust.

Alternative forms

• dowse

Verb

douse (third-person singular simple present douses, present participle dousing, simple past and past participle doused)

2. (transitive) To strike, beat, or thrash.
3. (transitive, nautical) To strike or lower in haste; to slacken suddenly

   Douse the topsail!

Translations

Noun

douse (plural douses)

2. A blow or stroke, especially to the face.

Anagrams

• oused

Middle English

Noun

douse

1. Alternative form of douce