vêtir

The French verb "vêtir" means "to clothe" or "to dress" someone or something. It is a more formal or literary term than the everyday verb "habiller," which also means "to dress."

Explanation:

• Vêtir refers specifically to the act of putting clothes on someone or something, often used in a more formal, literary, or figurative sense.
• It is typically used with a direct object, indicating the person or thing being clothed.
• Its past participle is "vêtu", which means "clothed" or "dressed" (as in "Bien vêtu" = well dressed).

Synonyms and Differences:

• Habiller: The most common and neutral verb meaning "to dress" or "to get someone dressed." Used frequently for people, especially children ("habiller un enfant").
• Habillement (noun): means "clothing" or "apparel" in general.
• Foutre un vêtement à (colloquial): means to put clothes on someone, but less formal.
• Vêtir vs. Habiller:
  • Vêtir has a formal/literary register and can be used metaphorically (e.g., "vêtir la terre d'un manteau blanc" = clothe the earth in a white mantle, like snow).
  • Habiller is everyday language, practical and concrete for dressing people.

Example:

• Le roi vénéré vint vêtir le jeune prince de son manteau royal.
  (The revered king came to clothe the young prince in his royal cloak.)
• Je dois habiller les enfants avant d’aller à l’école.
  (I have to dress the children before going to school.)

In summary, "vêtir" is a more elegant or formal verb to mean "to clothe" and is less commonly used in daily conversation compared to "habiller."