Prepare oneself for a military confrontation:
— The U.S. is girding for a conflict in the Middle East.

synonyms: arm, build up, fortify.

Roget 159: be strong etc. adj., be stronger; overmatch.    render strong etc. adj.; give strength etc. n.; strengthen, invigorate, brace, nerve, fortify, sustain, harden, case harden, steel, gird; screw up, wind up, set up; gird up one's loins, brace up one's loins; recruit, set on one's legs; vivify; refresh etc. 689; refect^†; reinforce, reenforce etc. (restore) 660.    ... show more

Roget 43: join, unite; conjoin, connect; associate; put together, lay together, clap together, hang together, lump together, hold together, piece together [Fr.], tack together, fix together, bind up together together; embody, reembody^†; roll into one.    attach, fix, affix, saddle on, fasten, bind, secure, clinch, twist, make fast etc. adj.; tie, pinion, string, strap, sew, lace, tat, stitch, tack, knit, button, buckle, hitch, lash, truss, bandage, braid, splice, swathe, gird, tether, moor, picket, harness, chain; fetter etc. (restrain) 751; lock, latch, belay, brace, hook, grapple, leash, couple, accouple^†, link, yoke, bracket; marry etc. (wed) 903; bridge over, span.    braze; pin, nail, bolt, hasp, clasp, clamp, crimp, screw, rivet; impact, solder, set; weld together, fuse together; wedge, rabbet, mortise, miter, jam, dovetail, enchase^†; graft, ingraft^†, inosculate^†; entwine, intwine^†; interlink, interlace, intertwine, intertwist^†, interweave; entangle; twine round, belay; tighten; trice up, screw up.    be joined &c.; hang together, hold together; cohere etc. 46.    ... show more

Roget 929: hold in disrespect etc. (despise) 930; misprize, disregard, slight, trifle with, set at naught, pass by, push aside, overlook, turn one's back upon, laugh in one's sleeve; be disrespectful etc. adj., be discourteous etc. 895; treat with disrespect etc. n.; set down, put down, browbeat.    dishonor, desecrate; insult, affront, outrage.    speak slightingly of; disparage etc. (dispraise) 932; vilipend^†, vilify, call names; throw dirt, fling dirt; drag through the mud, point at, indulge in personalities; make mouths, make faces; bite the thumb; take by the beard; pluck by the beard; toss in a blanket, tar and feather.    have in derision; hold in derision; deride, scoff, barrack, sneer, laugh at, snigger, ridicule, gibe, mock, jeer, hiss, hoot, taunt, twit, niggle^†, gleek^†, gird, flout, fleer^†; roast, turn into ridicule; burlesque etc. 856; laugh to scorn etc. (contempt) 930; smoke; fool; make game of, make a fool of, make an April fool of^†; play a practical joke; lead one a dance, run the rig upon, have a fling at, scout; mob.    ... show more

Put a girdle on or around:
— Gird your loins.

synonym: girdle.

Dutch: omgorden

Bind with something round or circular.

synonym: encircle.

Roget 227: lie around etc. adv.; surround, beset, compass, encompass, environ, inclose, enclose, encircle, embrace, circumvent, lap, gird; belt; begird, engird^†; skirt, twine round; hem in etc. (circumscribe) 229.    ... show more