Drĕss1, v. t.
v. t. [imp. & p. p. DRESSED (drĕst), or DREST; p. pr. & vb. n. DRESSING.] [Fr. dresser, to make straight, to raise, set up, prepare, arrange; Pr. dressar, dreissar, O. Sp. derezar, now enderezar; It. dirizzare, dirizzare, Lat. as if directiare, from directus, p. p. of dirigere, to direct. See DIRECT, and cf. ADDRESS.]
Sense 1. To make straight; to adjust to a right line; hence (Mil.), to arrange as soldiers in a straight line and at proper distance; to align; as, to dress the ranks.
Sense 2. To adjust; to put in good order; to arrange; specifically, (a.) To treat with remedies, as a sore, an ulcer, a wound, or wounded part; to nurse with curative appliances. Wiseman. (b.) To prepare for use; to fit for any use; to render suitable for an intended purpose; to get ready; as, to dress a slain animal; to dress leather or cloth; to dress or trim a lamp; to dress a garden; to dress food.
Women, by nature pitiful, have eat Their children (dressed with their own hand) for meat. Donne.
When he dresseth the lamps he shall burn incense. Ex. xxx. 7.
Three hundred horses . . . smoothly dressed. Dryden.
And the Lord God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it. Gen. ii. 15.
Thus the voluptuous youth, bred up to dress, For his fat grandsire, some delicious mess. Dryden.
(c.) (Mech.) To cut to proper dimensions; also, to smooth or finish work. (d.) To put in proper condition by appareling, as the body; to put clothes upon; to apparel; to invest with garments or rich decorations; to clothe; to deck. “Dressed myself in such humility.” Shak.
Prove that ever I dress myself handsome till thy return. Shak.
(e.) To break and train for use, as a horse or other animal.
To dress up, or out, to dress elaborately, artificially, or pompously. “You see very often a king of England or France dressed up like a Julius Cæsar.” Addison. — To dress a ship (Naut.), to deck or ornament her with colors.
Synonyms— To attire; apparel; clothe; accouter; array; robe; rig; trim; deck; adorn; embellish.