Grammar Question--Why Robes

[Geoff]

--- In HPFGU-OTChatter at yahoogroups.com, "Lee Storm \(God Is The Healing Force\)" <n2fgc at ...> wrote:
>
> Okay, this has really been nagging at me and I just don't have an answer.
> 
> Why in the books is a robe referred to as "robes?"  As in "dress robes"
> rather than "dress robe?"
> 
> Hopefully someone can give me a good explanation that makes sense.

Geoff:
In some ways, it's like "trousers" in that it is sometimes used in its plural 
form. In UK usage, it is used in the plural when it is referring to formal wear: 
"The Queen wears formal robes when she meets with members of the Order 
of the Garter" whereas in the singular it might be used to describe an 
individual: "He wore a simple black robe with a sash around his waist" or 
in the instance of a "bathrobe" -which most UK folk would refer to as a 
"dressing gown"; I do, on the odd occasions I wear one.

Hope that de-confwoozles you.
:-)