Emily Dickinson Lexicon

CLOTHE, v.t. [pret. and pp. clothed, or clad. See Cloth.]

1. To put on garments; to invest the body with raiment; to cover with dress, for concealing nakedness and defending the body from cold or injuries. The Lord God made coats of skin and clothed them. – Gen. iii.
2. To cover with something ornamental. Embroidered purple clothes the golden beds. – Pope. But clothe, without the aid of other words, seldom signifies to adorn. In this example from Pope, it signifier merely to cover.
3. To furnish with raiment; to provide with clothes; as, a master is to feed and clothe his apprentice.
4. To put on; to invest; to cover, as with a garment; as, to clothe thoughts with words. I will clothe her priests with salvation. – Ps. cxxxii. Drowsiness, shall clothe a man with rags. – Prov. xxiii. Let them be clothed with shame. – Ps. xxxv.
5. To invest; to surround; to encompass. The Lord is clothed with majesty. – Ps. xciii. Thou art clothed with honor and majesty. – Ps. civ.
6. To invest; to give to by commission; as, to clothe with power or authority.
7. To cover or spread over; as, the earth is clothed with verdure.