vesture

[ ves-cher ]

noun

1. Law.
   1. everything growing on and covering the land, with the exception of trees.
   2. any such covering, as grass or wheat.
2. Archaic.
   1. clothing; garments.
   2. something that covers like a garment; covering.

verb (used with object)

, ves·tured, ves·tur·ing.

1. Archaic. to clothe or cover.

vesture

/ ˈvɛstʃə /

noun

1. archaic.
   a garment or something that seems like a garment

   a vesture of cloud

2. law
   1. everything except trees that grows on the land
   2. a product of the land, such as grass, wheat, etc

verb

1. archaic.
   tr to clothe

Derived Forms

• ˈvestural, adjective

Other Words From

• vestur·al adjective
• non·vesture noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of vesture¹

1300–50; Middle English < Anglo-French; Old French vesteure < Vulgar Latin *vestītūra, equivalent to Latin vestīt ( us ), past participle of vestīre ( vest ) + -ūra -ure

Word History and Origins

Origin of vesture¹

C14: from Old French, from vestir, from Latin vestīre, from vestis clothing

Example Sentences

Benedict, in contrast, wore the vesture like a uniform, emphasizing his notion of the papacy not as a glamorous appointment but as the humble, humbling job of leading the Catholic Church.

From Washington Post

Against that backdrop, the shameless price-gouging policy of Shrekli’s latest vesture, Turing, starts to make a sick sort of market sense.

From The Guardian

Modern thought leaders are like secular clergy, convening gatherings and delivering sermons that are really just moral pep-talks dressed up in TED-style vesture.

From Forbes

The music-master was a young man, thin and clean, whose bright silk waistcoats belied the gravity of the rest of his vesture, which was black and brown.

From Literature

The Vestal Virgins were further distinguished by a vesture of pure white linen, with a purple border and a wide purple mantle.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• attire
• garb
• regalia
• sportswear
• wardrobe