different between sheathe vs sheathy

English

Etymology

From Late Middle English shethen (“to put (a sword or knife) into a sheath, sheathe; to provide with a sheath; (figuratively) to have sexual intercourse”) [and other forms], then:

• probably from Old English *sc?aþian; or
• possibly from Middle English sheth, shethe (“holder for a sword, knife, etc., scabbard, sheath”) [and other forms] + -en (suffix forming the infinitive of verbs). Sheth(e) is derived from Old English s??aþ (“sheath”), from Proto-Germanic *skaiþiz (“sheath; covering”), from Proto-Indo-European *skey- (“to dissect, split”) (possibly from the notion of a split stick with a sword inserted).

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) enPR: sh?th, IPA^(key): /?i?ð/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /?ið/
• Rhymes: -i?ð

Verb

sheathe (third-person singular simple present sheathes, present participle sheathing, simple past and past participle sheathed)

1. (transitive) To put (something such as a knife or sword) into a sheath.

   Antonym: unsheathe
2. (transitive) To encase (something) with a protective covering.

   Antonym: unsheathe

   • 1975, Saul Bellow, Humboldt's Gift [Avon ed., 1976, p. 232]:

     But he could never come up with enough enchantment or dream material to sheathe himself in. It would not cover.

3. (transitive) Of an animal: to draw back or retract (a body part) into the body, such as claws into a paw.

   Antonym: unsheathe
4. (transitive, dated or literary, poetic, figuratively) To thrust (a sharp object like a sword, a claw, or a tusk) into something.
5. (transitive, obsolete or rare, figuratively) To abandon or cease (animosity, etc.)
6. (transitive, obsolete) To provide (a sword, etc.) with a sheath.
7. (transitive, medicine, obsolete) To relieve the harsh or painful effect of (a drug, a poison, etc.).

Conjugation

Alternative forms

• sheath

Derived terms

Translations

References

English

Etymology

sheath +? -y

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /??i??i/

Adjective

sheathy (comparative more sheathy, superlative most sheathy)

1. Forming or resembling a sheath or case.