'attire' originates from Middle French, specifically the word 'atirier' (or 'atir'), where the prefix 'a-' (from Latin 'ad-') meant 'to' and the element related to French 'tirer' meant 'to pull/arrange'.

'attire' changed from Old/Middle French 'atir/atirier' into Middle English forms such as 'attyre' and eventually became the modern English word 'attire'.

Initially, it meant 'to arrange or equip (especially by putting on clothes)', and over time it evolved into the current meanings 'to clothe' (verb) and 'clothing/dress' (noun).