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bath
DCHP-2 (May 2016)
v.
to wash oneself or another, usually in a bath.
Type: 5. Frequency — The verb to bath functions as both a transitive (see the 1925 and 1945 quotations) and intransitive verb (see the 1920 and 1950 quotations). Variation between bath and bathe has a long history, with the form bath going back to the 15th century (see OED-3, s.v. "bath" (v)). In a secondary instance, a semantic differentiation has been created, as can be seen in OED-3's assessment that the verb "to bath" has a "more distinct reference" to washing in a bathtub (see OED-3, s.v. "bath" (v)), versus other bodies of water (e.g. pool, ocean, sink). Yet this distinction is not generally observed and bath can be used instead of bathe (see, e.g. the 1983 quotation). Chart 1 shows that the phrase "bath the baby", for instance, is more prominent in the Commonwealth countries, but not as common in the UK, where bathe would be used, or the US, which makes the term a Canadianism in the UK and US contexts.
See also COD-2, s.v. "bath" (v), which is marked "Cdn & Brit.".
See also COD-2, s.v. "bath" (v), which is marked "Cdn & Brit.".
Quotations
1920
The Nestle Permanent Hair Wave given by W. T. Pember, Canada's hair specialist, will satisfy the most critical. The new machine and process is perfect; you can bath and shampoo all you wish and it will be even wavy afterwards.
1925
Saturday - Morning, work, etc. All the house is clean but kitchen and baking for Sunday. Nice to be finished at noon on Saturday. In the afternoon you can bath the children, etc.
1945
There comes a time, however, when her bluff is called and she has to try to carry out the idea personally and show that she can bath babies and flip flapjacks.
1948
Mr. Gallagher, secretary for the Board of Overseas Missions, said that in Japan you take your bath before getting into the tub. "There everybody in the household uses the same bath water - so you must bath in a special basin before reclining in the tub," he said.
1950
"Little Tony had attended school for just a few days when the teacher gave a talk on health. She ended up saying, 'Well, my dear children, if you want to grow up healthy, you must bath at least once a week.' [...]"
1983
Visitors can bath in the natural hot springs which have been restored. The five-star Plaza Hotel in Tiberias charges $103 per couple for bed and breakfast, but attractive caravans can be had for $25 a day at the Camp Sitsp run by Kibbutz Ein Gev on the other side of the lake.
1992
Meanwhile, other studies have found it's the women who take care of the feeding, bath-ing and clothing of children, she said. The same holds true for housework.
2002
I would like a vanity and a Blues Clues thinking chair, and a baby that I can bath and shower with.
2002
"Conventional verrucae (wart) treatments, for example, involve freezing or using acid, both of which are extremely painful and have a success rate of about 60 per cent [. . .] I have a 90 per cent success rate and patients can bath or shower between visits."
2005
There are basic functions that need to be looked after in the bathroom. A full bathroom is just that, a room that you can bath in. Half baths offer less opportunity to clean up but other equally important things happen there too. A house with two or more bathrooms is normal these days but a big luxury not very long ago. They even have shower balancers these days that will keep the water temperature the same when someone in the half bath upstairs flushes the toilet.
2010
Come in, the water's fine. The up-to-date Bath House adjoining the Post Office. Mothers, don't bath your children, send them with 25 cents, and my attendant will bath them, comb their hair etc. You are invited to come and see our bath house. We are proud of it. McCormick & Walker.
References
- COD-2
- OED-3
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