PH Grammar and Vocabulary wizards, help me please!
PH Grammar and Vocabulary wizards, help me please!
Author
Discussion

hugo a gogo

Original Poster:

23,422 posts

255 months

Wednesday 1st July 2009
quotequote all
I was of the opinion that 'bath' is a noun, and 'bathe' was the appropriate verb for what you do in the bath (no sniggering at the back):

OED seems to agree to an extent, http://www.askoxford.com/concise_oed/bathe?view=uk

but it also gives 'bath' as a verb - "to wash in a bath"

http://www.askoxford.com/concise_oed/bath?view=uk

Does anyone have a more definitive answer to silence a chap who reckons i bath, you bath, we bath, she baths?

edit: I'm thinking 'to bath' involves dipping something in liquid, but not a human being sitting in a bathtub, having a wash

Edited by hugo a gogo on Wednesday 1st July 21:13

Eric Mc

124,716 posts

287 months

Wednesday 1st July 2009
quotequote all
Both correct I would say.

Bathe may be a slightly more old fashioned term these days.

havoc

32,543 posts

257 months

Wednesday 1st July 2009
quotequote all
I'm with Hugo's edit on this one - re: people "bathe" is still correct...be it a bath, pool or the sea.