Definition of "bare"

Nature indeed furnishes us with the bare necessaries of life, but traffic gives us a great variety of what is useful

1711 May 30 (Gregorian calendar), [Joseph Addison], “SATURDAY, May 19, 1711”, in The Spectator, number 69; republished in Alexander Chalmers, editor, The Spectator; a New Edition, […], volume I, New York, N.Y.: D[aniel] Appleton & Company, 1853

"I refuse to show myself out of doors in my bare feet," the Centipede said. "I have to get my boots on again first."

1961, Roald Dahl, James and the Giant Peach, Knopf, page 46

Localities across New Jersey imposed curfews to prevent looting. In Monmouth, Ocean and other counties, people waited for hours for gasoline at the few stations that had electricity. Supermarket shelves were stripped bare.

2012 October 31, David M. Halbfinger, New York Times, retrieved 31 October 2012

The phone would answer, we'd go round the corner, pass something to someone, go back and we'd have bare dough, we'd have bare money in our pocket.

2005 July 13, Ryan, quotee, “‘We like the easy money. We like the lifestyle’”, in The Guardian‎

You shagged bare lads, you're a little sket / Have you heard your bars? They're fucking pept

2016 December 3, Millie B (lyrics and music), “Soph Aspin Send”, performed by Millie B

Oh, come on. Help a brother out. People see you coppin', might inspire them. Look, I know you ain't payin' bills right now. Man must have bare peas saved up.

2023, Nathan Bryon, Tom Melia, directed by Raine Allen-Miller, Rye Lane, spoken by Nathan (Simon Manyonda)

When once thy foot enters the church, be bare. / God is more there, then thou: for thou art there / Onely by his permiſſion.

, George Herbert, “The Church-porch”, in [Nicholas Ferrar], editor, The Temple: Sacred Poems, and Private Ejaculations, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire: […] Thomas Buck and Roger Daniel; and are to be sold by Francis Green, […]; reprinted London: Elliot Stock, […], 1885, page 14

Bare in thy guilt how foul muſt thou appear?

1671, John Milton, “Samson Agonistes, […]”, in Paradise Regain’d. A Poem. In IV Books. To which is Added, Samson Agonistes, London: […] J. M[acock] for John Starkey […], page 56, line 903

Those who lent him money lent it on no security but his bare word.

1848, Thomas Babington Macaulay, The History of England from the Accession of James the Second, Chapter XII

for it appears, by their bare liveries, that they live by your bare words.

c. 1590–1591 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Two Gentlemen of Verona”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, [Act II, scene iv]

Before the company was formed, the firm went bare for about three months in 1985, but it now has prior acts coverage for that time.

1987 December 1, ABA Journal, page 86

That a firm chooses to go bare has no effect on whether it gets sued or not.

1994, David S. Haviland, The Architect's Handbook of Professional Practice, page 310

The fiend had bare departed when Ailie came over the threshold to find the auld carline glunching over the fire.

1902, John Buchan, The Outgoing of the Tide

He finally came back to himself and asked why the furor. "Why," Lucy said, "because this is Christmas Eve. We have bare enough time to get ready for the ball, after dinner, as it is."

2009, Allan Cole with Chris Bunch, The Wars of the Shannons

“I've bare enough for these two, much less fill your belly.”

2011, Elizabeth Vaughan, Warprize

While none of the participants had complete confidence in condoms, they continued to use them as a better alternative than “going in bare".

2000, Northeast African Studies - Volume 7, page 119

It would be fine to have these women bare, without condoms.

2002, The Society of Malawi Journal - Volumes 55-58, page 70

I like to go bare. I don't like wearing condoms, actually I hate 'em.

2010, M. L. Matthews, I Am Not the Father: Narratives of Men Falsely Accused of Paternity

In sad good earnest, sir, you have toucht the very bare of naked truth [...]

1599, John Marston, Antonio and Mellida

Vancha clasped the bare of my neck and squeezed amiably.

2002, Darren Shan, Hunters of the dusk: 7

You have touched the very bare of naked truth.

c. 1599 (date written), I. M. [i.e., John Marston], The History of Antonio and Mellida. The First Part. […], London: […] [Richard Bradock] for Mathewe Lownes, and Thomas Fisher, […], published 1602, (please specify the page)

And the children of the Levites bare the ark of God upon their shoulders with the staves thereon

1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], 1 Chronicles 15:15

And so I put thee on my shoulder and bare thee back, and here thou art in David's room, and shalt find board and bed with me as long as thou hast mind to

1898, J. Meade Falkner, chapter 5, in Moonfleet, London, Toronto, Ont.: Jonathan Cape, published 1934