Wears

/wɛrz/ verb

Definition

Has clothing on the body, or to gradually become thinner or weaker through use or time.

Etymology

From Old English 'werian,' related to Old Norse 'verja,' both meaning 'to clothe' or 'to carry.' Over time, a second meaning developed where 'wear' described the gradual damage things suffer from use.

Kelly Says

English has two separate meanings of 'wear' that came from the same root—wearing clothes and wearing something down—which might seem unrelated until you realize that both involve something gradually becoming different through contact and friction.

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