bathe
UK: beɪð | US: beɪð
vt. to wash or soak (the body or part of it) in water or other liquid
vi. to take a bath or swim for pleasure or cleanliness
n. (archaic) an act or instance of bathing
bathe = bath<to wash> + e<verb-forming suffix>
- bath: From Old English bæþ ("immersing in water"), related to German Bad ("bath"). Originally referred to the act of washing or the vessel used for it.
- e: A verb-forming suffix in Old English, often added to nouns to create action verbs (e.g., bath → bathe).
Etymology Origin:
The word bathe evolved from Old English bæþian, derived from bæþ ("bath"). The addition of the -e suffix transformed the noun into a verb, emphasizing the action of washing. Over time, bathe expanded to include recreational swimming, while bath remained the noun form. The dual usage reflects the Germanic roots of English, where noun-to-verb conversions were common.
She likes to bathe in lavender-scented water for relaxation.
The river is too polluted to bathe safely.
In summer, children bathe in the lake every afternoon.
(Archaic) "He took a bathe in the heated springs."
The nurse helped the patient bathe after surgery.