bathe

Everyday

1. To bathe means to wash yourself or someone else in a bath (more US; in the UK people more often say «have a bath»). tree →
2. To bathe a wound or your eyes is to wash them gently with water. tree →
3. (UK) To bathe means to swim in the sea, a river or a lake for fun. tree →
4. To be bathed in light means to be filled or covered with it: the room was bathed in sunlight. tree →

In the lessons

In everyday life, parents bathe babies and pet owners bathe dogs; in first aid, you bathe a cut or a sting with clean water. In stories and poems, a scene «bathed in moonlight» paints a soft, bright picture. In history, Romans bathed in public baths. In geography, beaches have «bathing water» quality signs. Phrases: «bathe the baby», «bathe a wound», «bathed in light», «bathing suit», «sunbathe».

Examples

• Mum bathed the baby before bed. tree →
• Bathe the cut with clean water. tree →
• We bathed in the cold sea on Boxing Day. tree →
• The garden was bathed in golden sunlight. tree →
• The Romans bathed together in big public baths. tree →
• Lizards sunbathe on warm rocks. tree →
• 'I want to go down to the lake, and bathe,' said she. tree →

Note

Trap: «bathe» (verb, rhymes with "save", long a, soft th) vs «bath» (noun or UK verb, short a or "bahth"). UK: «I'll bath the baby» is also common. Forms: bathed, bathing (drop the e). «Bathing» can be from bathe ("BAYTH-ing") or from bath ("BAHTH-ing").

In Jewish tradition

To wash the whole body in water as a way of cleansing from uncleanness. It is required after certain kinds of contact or illness.

Interpretation. The rabbis read this as immersion in a mikveh, a pool of gathered water. It is the way someone becomes pure again so that they may enter the holy place or eat holy food.

Examples

• But if he wash them not, nor bathe his flesh, then he shall bear his iniquity. (Torah LEV.17.16, JPS 1917) tree →
• And whosoever toucheth his bed shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even. (Torah LEV.15.5, JPS 1917) tree →
• And whosoever toucheth her bed shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even. (Torah LEV.15.21, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

Trap: «bathe» (verb, rhymes with "save", long a, soft th) vs «bath» (noun or UK verb, short a or "bahth"). UK: «I'll bath the baby» is also common. Forms: bathed, bathing (drop the e). «Bathing» can be from bathe ("BAYTH-ing") or from bath ("BAHTH-ing").