vestment

[ vest-muhnt ]

noun

1. a garment, especially an outer garment.
2. vestments, Chiefly Literary. attire; clothing.
3. an official or ceremonial robe.
4. Ecclesiastical.
   1. one of the garments worn by the clergy and their assistants, choristers, etc., during divine service and on other occasions.
   2. one of the garments worn by the celebrant, deacon, and subdeacon during the celebration of the Eucharist.
5. something that clothes or covers like a garment:

   a mountaintop with a vestment of clouds.

vestment

/ ˈvɛstmənt; vɛstˈmɛntəl /

noun

1. a garment or robe, esp one denoting office, authority, or rank
2. any of various ceremonial garments worn by the clergy at religious services

Derived Forms

• vestmental, adjective

Other Words From

• vest·men·tal [vest-, men, -tl], adjective
• vestment·ed adjective
• sub·vestment noun
• super·vestment noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of vestment¹

1250–1300; syncopated variant of Middle English vestiment < Medieval Latin vestīmentum priestly robe, Latin: garment, equivalent to vestī ( re ) to dress ( vest ) + -mentum -ment

Word History and Origins

Origin of vestment¹

C13: from Old French vestiment, from Latin vestīmentum clothing, from vestīre to clothe

Example Sentences

Actually, while they wear the red vestments well, this is a bunch who probably should have spent more time in church.

From Los Angeles Times

“Clad in his church vestments, he read with emotion from the Book of Isaiah about a God who extends his kingdom of love beyond Israel to cover foreigners and eunuchs,” The Star-Ledger of Newark reported.

From New York Times

A talented artist, she painted and designed ballet costumes, church vestments and dinnerware.

From Seattle Times

In ornately decorated vestments, dozens of priests and officiants took part, swinging smoking incense censers and chanting the liturgy.

From Seattle Times

Here's a look back to some notable vestments.

From BBC

Related Words

• frock
• garb
• robe
• stole
• tunic