vesture

1 of 2

noun

ves·​ture ˈves-chər 

ˈvesh-

1

a

: a covering garment (such as a robe or vestment)

b

: clothing, apparel

2

: something that covers like a garment

vesture

2 of 2

verb

vestured; vesturing

transitive verb

: to cover with vesture : clothe

Synonyms

Noun

• apparel
• attire
• clobber [British slang]
• clothes
• clothing
• costumery
• dress
• duds
• garments
• gear
• habiliment(s)
• habit [archaic]
• rags
• raiment
• rig
• rigging
• threads
• toggery
• togs
• vestiary
• vestments
• wear
• wearables
• weeds

Verb

• apparel
• array
• attire
• bedeck
• caparison
• clothe
• costume
• deck (out)
• do up
• dress
• dress up
• enrobe
• garb
• garment
• get up
• gown
• habit
• invest
• rig (out)
• robe
• suit
• tog (up or out)
• toilet

Examples of vesture in a Sentence

Noun

the man's sober vesture contrasted sharply with his companion's festive finery

Verb

vestured like a queen for her grand birthday party

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

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. —Ashley Fetters Maloy, Washington Post, 31 Dec. 2022

To believe that this Creator took on human vesture, accepted death and mortality, was tempted, betrayed, broken, and all for love of us, defies reason. —Ruth Franklin, The New York Review of Books, 25 Feb. 2020

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from vestir to clothe — more at vest entry 2

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined above