To gird or prepare oneself; to make ready or equip for action.
From Latin 'accingere' meaning 'to gird around' or 'to prepare,' from 'ad-' (to) plus 'cingere' (to gird). The root imagery is literally putting on a belt or armor to prepare for battle.
This word preserves an ancient Roman way of thinking about preparation—you literally cinched yourself up with a belt to get ready, so 'to gird oneself' became the universal metaphor for readiness.
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