different between sheathe vs swaddle

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

From Middle English swathlen (“to bind; swaddle”), from Middle English swathel, swethel, from Old English swaþul, swæþel, sweþel, sweoþol (“swaddling cloth”), equivalent to swathe (“to wrap with fabric”) +? -le (agent/instrumental suffix), the word then underwent th-stopping (its voiced th became a d). Cognate with Middle Dutch swadel (“swaddling; bandage”), Old High German swedili (“poultice”), Old English sweþian, besweþian (“to wrap; swaddle”).

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /?sw?d?l/
• (US) IPA^(key): /?sw?d?l/, /?sw?d?l/
• Rhymes: -?d?l

Verb

swaddle (third-person singular simple present swaddles, present participle swaddling, simple past and past participle swaddled)

1. To bind (a baby) with long narrow strips of cloth.
2. (archaic) To beat; cudgel.

Related terms

• swaddling

Translations

Noun

swaddle (plural swaddles)

1. Anything used to swaddle with, such as a cloth or band.

   • They put me in bed in all my swaddles.

Anagrams

• Dewalds, Waddles, dawdles, waddles