ankleiden

Ankleiden is a German verb meaning to clothe someone or to dress in a particular outfit. It is formed from the prefix an- and the verb kleiden. The sense can be transitive, for example: Der Diener ankleidete die Gäste in Festkleidung, meaning the servant dressed the guests. It can also be used reflexively with sich: Er ließ sich ankleiden, meaning he had himself dressed. In contemporary German, ankleiden is considered formal or archaic, and everyday speech tends to menggunakan anziehen or sich anziehen for dressing.

Past participle and noun forms: The past participle is angekleidet. The noun form das Ankleiden refers to the act of dressing, while die Ankleidung denotes clothing or attire. The word thus functions both as a verb and, in its noun forms, in descriptions of clothing practices or the act of dressing.

Usage and register: Ankleiden often appears in historical descriptions, literature, or formal prose about ceremonial dress or costume design. It is less common in casual conversation, where more everyday verbs like anziehen or sich anziehen are preferred. The term can carry a nuance of deliberate, ceremonial, or formal dressing rather than simple everyday wear.

See also: Kleidung, Ankleidung, Kostüm, Garderobe, Anziehen, Bekleiden, Entkleiden.

References: In standard German dictionaries such as Duden, ankleiden is listed as a correct but less common term, primarily found in formal or historical contexts.