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# bathe

verb (bathe, bathes, bathed, bathing); noun (a bathe — UK, old-fashioned)

«bathe» in the English dictionary: everyday and in Jewish tradition — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## 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 →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/bathe/#m1)
2. To bathe a wound or your eyes is to wash them gently with water. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/bathe/#m2)
3. (UK) To bathe means to swim in the sea, a river or a lake for fun. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/bathe/#m3)
4. To be bathed in light means to be filled or covered with it: the room was bathed in sunlight. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/bathe/#m4)

### 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 →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/bathe/#x1)
- Bathe the cut with clean water. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/bathe/#x2)
- We bathed in the cold sea on Boxing Day. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/bathe/#x3)
- The garden was bathed in golden sunlight. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/bathe/#x4)
- The Romans bathed together in big public baths. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/bathe/#x5)
- Lizards sunbathe on warm rocks. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/bathe/#x6)
- 'I want to go down to the lake, and bathe,' said she. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/bathe/#x7)

### 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 →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/B/bathe/#x1)
- 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 →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/B/bathe/#x2)
- 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 →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/B/bathe/#x3)

### 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").

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «bathe» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/bathe/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«bathe» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/bathe.html) on Mova free.
- [Trees and pragmatics of «bathe» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/B/bathe/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«bathe» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/judaism/w/bathe.html) on Mova free.