Forms: 3–5 atire, 4–6 atyre, 6–7 attyre, 4– attire. See also aphet. TIRE v.2 [a. OF. atire-r, earlier atirier to arrange, put into order, array, equip, dress, deck, cogn. w. Pr. atieirar, formed on the phrase a tieira, OF. à tire ‘into row or order,’ f. Pr. tieira (teira, tiera), It. tiera, OF. tire (tiere), tow, rank, order, series, suite, train; of uncertain origin: see TIER.

1

  (See article by H. Nicol in Trans. Philol. Soc. (Proc. 19 Dec., 1879). Connetion with OHG. ziarí ‘beauty, adornment,’ is still doubtful.)]

2

  † 1.  To put in order, put to rights. Obs.

3

c. 1330.  R. Brunne, Chron., 10. Into þe waise þam fro he tombled top ouer taile. His knyghtis vp him lyft, and did him eft atire.

4

c. 1400.  Destr. Troy, V. 2013. Þai … knitten vp þe saile, Atyrit þe tacle.

5

  † 2.  To prepare, equip, fit out. Obs.

6

c. 1330.  R. Brunne, Chron., 207. What dos þe Kyng of France? atires him gode nauie [Langtoft, attyre sa navye].

7

a. 1440.  Ipomydon, 535. Turnementis atyred in the felde, a M. armed with spere and shelde.

8

  † 3.  To equip (the person, a horse): a. for war: To arm. Obs.

9

1297.  R. Glouc., 547. & newe kniȝtes made, & armede & attired hom, & hor bedes ȝerne bade.

10

c. 1400.  Destr. Troy, VII. 2995. A palfray of prise, prudly atyrit.

11

1593.  Drayton, Ecl., iv. 99. That did streight Limbs in stubborn Steele attire.

12

  b.  with dress or clothing: To dress, adorn, array. (Now only literary, and chiefly refl. and pass.)

13

c. 1350.  Will. Palerne, 1705. Sche … borwed boiȝes cloþes & talliche hire a-tyred tiȝtli þerinne.

14

a. 1450.  Knt. de la Tour, cviii. 145. And atyred hem selff with thaire riche and fresshe atyre.

15

1526.  Tindale, 1 Pet. iii. 5. After this manner in the olde tyme did the wholy wemen … tyre them selves.

16

1593.  Shaks., 2 Hen. VI., II. iv. 109. It will hang vpon my richest Robes, And shew it selfe, attyre me how I can.

17

1699.  Dryden, Pal. & Arc., III. 69. His shoulders large a mantle did attire.

18

1859.  Tennyson, Enid, 770. To greet her thus attired.

19

  c.  To dress (the head, mostly of women). arch.

20

c. 1400.  Destr. Troy, VII. 3026. The here atiret in tressis trusset full faire.

21

1595.  Spenser, Amoretti, xxxvii. Her golden tresses, She doth attyre vnder a net of gold.

22

1611.  Bible, 2 Kings ix. 30. Shee painted her face, and tyred her head, and looked out at a window.

23

1859.  Tennyson, Enid, 62. This too the women who attired her head … Told Enid.

24

  † 4.  To ‘dress’ venison for food. Obs.

25

c. 1320.  Sir Tristr., I. xliii. Yond lith a best unflain, Atire it as thou wold.

26