Grammar Question--Why Robes

[bboyminn]

--- 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.
> 
> Smile,
> 
> Lee (The Confwoozled)
> 

Steve:

First, my computer dictionary, American Heritage, does make a distinction within the same definition between "robe" and robes". In the case of the second, it is not merely the plural of the first. 

Specifically "robes" is defined as "Clothes; apparel."

But, let's look at this from a historical perspective. Back in the ancient days before central heating, people wore multi-layers of clothing, which could be added or removed as the temperature in the room fluctuated. 

So, it would be rare for a person to wear a single full length robe, they would wear many layers of robes. Especially if they were rich. So, someone dressed in that fashion would be wearing Robes, and I suspect overtime, it became the general term for that appeal whether one as wearing a single robe or many. 

It is not a specific term, the way 'robe' is. It is an all encompassing term the refers to a style of dress. 

But then, I speculate.

Steve/bboyminn