Engirdled

/ɪnˈɡɜːrdəld/ verb

Definition

Past tense of engirdle; wrapped around or encircled something completely.

Etymology

From Middle English engirden, combining en- (prefix meaning 'to cause to be') + girdle (from Old English gyrdel, meaning belt or band). The -ed ending marks past tense.

Kelly Says

This word is a rare example of a verb form that's almost never used in modern English—even though 'girdling' a tree (stripping bark in a circle) is a real forestry practice, we'd never say a rope 'engirdled' a tree. Language naturally shed these old 'en-' verb forms!

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