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arm(3) (iou)



arm verb1. [¨»:m] ME.
[Old & mod. French armer from Latin armare, from arma: see ARM noun2.]
I. verb trans.
Provide with weapons or (arch.) armour; equip for war. ME.
G. K. Chesterton Enough swords, pistols, partisans, cross-bows, and blunderbusses to arm a whole irregular regiment. P. Gallico Armed themselves, fought and won battles against their hostile neighbours.
Provide with equipment, qualities, advantages, etc., for a task; prepare, make ready. ME.
Shakespeare Midsummer Night's Dream Look you arm yourself To fit your fancies to your father's will. I. Walton First you must arm your hook.
Provide (an animal etc.) with organs of offence or defence. Usu. in pass. LME.
Heraldry. (Earlier as ARMED adjective1 2.) Represent as wearing armour; represent (an animal) with distinct teeth, talons, etc. LME.
Plate, coat, cover, or furnish with something providing strength, protection, etc. Usu. in pass. LME.
arm the lead Nautical cover the base of the sounding-weight with tallow (to pick up a sample from the bottom).
Dryden Ceres..armed with Iron Shares the crooked Plough.
Provide (a magnet) with an armature. M17-M19.
Make (a weapon) ready for immediate use; activate the fuse or firing device of (a bomb etc.). E20.
Country Life When the airship made an attack..it was the pilot who had to arm the bombs, take a sight, and drop them. J. Clavell He had broken open some of the crates of muskets and had set those who could to arming them with powder and with shot.
II. verb intrans.
Take up arms; provide oneself with weapons or (arch.) armour; prepare oneself. ME.
Burke It certainly cannot be right to arm in support of a faction, though it is most laudable to arm in favour of our country. G. B. Shaw Protestant Ulster..armed against the rest of Ireland and defied the British Parliament. J. Kirkup If we permit our governments to arm for peace, We sanction war.
arming noun (a) the action of the verb; (b) arms, armour; (c) a defensive or protective covering; a part which protects, strengthens, or fits for a purpose: ME.