cape

¹

[ keyp ]

noun

1. a sleeveless garment of various lengths, fastened around the neck and falling loosely from the shoulders, worn separately or attached to a coat or other outer garment.
2. the capa of a bullfighter.

verb (used with object)

, caped, cap·ing.

1. (of a matador or capeador during a bullfight) to induce and guide the charge of (a bull) by flourishing a capa.

cape

²

[ keyp ]

noun

1. a piece of land jutting into the sea or some other large body of water.

   Synonyms: spit, headland, promontory, point

2. the Cape.
   1. Northeastern U.S. Cape Cod ( def 1 ).
   2. Cape of Good Hope ( def 1 ).
3. capeskin.

verb (used without object)

, caped, cap·ing.

1. Nautical. (of a ship) to have good steering qualities.

adjective

1. Cape, pertaining to the Cape of Good Hope or to South Africa:

   a Cape diamond.

Cape

¹

/ keɪp /

noun

1. the SW region of South Africa, in Western Cape province
2. See Cape of Good Hope

cape

²

/ keɪp /

noun

1. a sleeveless garment like a cloak but usually shorter
2. a strip of material attached to a coat or other garment so as to fall freely, usually from the shoulders

cape

³

/ keɪp /

noun

1. a headland or promontory

cape

/ kāp /

1. A point or head of land projecting into a body of water.

Other Words From

• caped adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of cape¹

First recorded in 1610–20; from French cap(p)e, from Spanish capa or Italian cappa, from Late Latin cappa “hooded cloak”; cope ²

Origin of cape²

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English cap, from Middle French, from Old Provençal cap or Italian capo, from Vulgar Latin capum (unrecorded) for Latin caput “head”

Word History and Origins

Origin of cape¹

C16: from French, from Provençal capa, from Late Latin cappa; see cap

Origin of cape²

C14: from Old French cap, from Old Provençal, from Latin caput head

Example Sentences

In 2001, having spent too long out of the country on a trip, Smyth and his wife Anne were refused re-entry, prompting their move to South Africa’s coastal city of Durban and then a few years later to Cape Town, where the couple were living when the Church of England became fully aware in 2013 of the abuses he had committed in the UK.

From BBC

"The Anglican church in Cape Town in which John Smyth worshipped… has reported that it never received any reports suggesting he abused or groomed young people," Thabo Makgoba, the archbishop of Cape Town, said in statement responding to this week's resignation of Justin Welby as Archbishop of Canterbury.

From BBC

Originating in the KwaZulu-Natal provinces of South Africa, on the Eastern Cape, the bird of paradise found its way to the Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens in San Marino sometime before 1932, when the institution’s record-keeping began, explains Kathy Musial, senior curator of living collections.

From Los Angeles Times

In September Musk threatened to sue the Federal Aviation Administration over its plans to fine his SpaceX company $633,000 for alleged license infringements related to some of its rocket launches from Cape Canaveral in Florida.

From BBC

But he worries that some people put these things on and feel invincible, like they’re wearing “Superman’s cape.”

From Los Angeles Times