arm
Definitions
The upper limb of the human body, from the shoulder to the hand.
手臂，胳膊（从肩到手的上肢）。
(usually plural, arms) weapons used in fighting.
（通常用复数 arms）武器，兵器。
Something shaped like or functioning like an arm, e.g. an arm of a chair or a narrow inlet of the sea.
类似手臂的东西，如椅子扶手、狭长的海湾。
To equip with weapons; to prepare for combat or action.
武装，配备武器；做好战斗或行动的准备。
Root Breakdown
Root-derivedarm holds two meanings from one ancient root *ar-* ('fit together'). The body part is the limb 'jointed' to the shoulder; the weapon sense comes from Latin arma ('war gear') and armāre ('to equip'). That is why arms means 'weapons' and to arm means 'to take up weapons' — the limb that fights and the weapon it carries are linguistic cousins.
Root arma still carries 9 more wordsWhy It Means This
It surprises learners that the body part and the weapon are the same word. They are: both go back to ar- 'to fit together.' Your arm is the limb fitted to your shoulder; weapons are what 'fit out' a soldier. Latin kept the war sense in arma, and English fused them in one spelling.
Usage Guide
The weapon sense is almost always plural: arms control, bear arms, lay down arms. Singular arm in everyday speech means the body part. The verb arm (to equip) is common in arm yourself, armed forces, armed robbery.
Example Sentences
- 1.
She broke her arm falling off the bike.
- 2.
He put his arm around her shoulders to comfort her.
- 3.
The rebels were heavily armed with rifles and grenades.
- 4.
Both sides agreed to lay down their arms and negotiate.