apparel
/əˈpærəl/
noun
Origin
Latin
ad par — to set or make ready
Overview
Meaning Now
- Clothing of a particular kind; garments or attire.
- Personal equipment or outward appearance.
Literal older meaning
readiness or preparation
Language path
Latin → Old French → Middle English → English
Earliest form
apparail
Earliest period
14th century
Journey
The word originally referred to the act of preparation or equipment in a general sense. By the late Middle English period, the meaning specialized to the clothes one puts on to be 'ready' or presentable.
Evolution
- Latin
adparare
“to prepare”
- Old French
apareiller
“to prepare or equip”
- Middle English
apparail
“clothing, preparation”
- Modern English
apparel
“clothing”
Connections
Word parts
ad-
prefix
to
parare
root
to prepare
Related across languages
French
appareil
device, apparatus
Spanish
aparejar
to prepare, to rig
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External references use DefinedTerm semantics.