Gird v. t. [imp. & p. p. Girt or Girded; p. pr. & vb. n. Girding.]
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.
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