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The Collaborative International Dictionary
Vesture

Vesture \Ves"ture\ (?; 135), n. [OF. vesture, vesteure, F. v[^e]ture, LL. vestitura, from L. vestire to clothe, dress. See Vest, v. t., and cf. Vestiture.]

  1. A garment or garments; a robe; clothing; dress; apparel; vestment; covering; envelope.
    --Piers Plowman.

    Approach, and kiss her sacred vesture's hem.
    --Milton.

    Rocks, precipices, and gulfs, appareled with a vesture of plants.
    --Bentley.

    There polished chests embroidered vestures graced.
    --Pope.

  2. (O. Eng. Law)

    1. The corn, grass, underwood, stubble, etc., with which land was covered; as, the vesture of an acre.

    2. Seizin; possession.

Douglas Harper's Etymology Dictionary
vesture

late 14c., "garments, clothes worn by a person at one time," from Anglo-French and Old French vesture, vesteure "dress, clothes, clothing," from Vulgar Latin *vestitura "vestments, clothing," from Latin vestivus, past participle of vestire "to clothe" (see wear (v.)).

Wiktionary
vesture

n. A covering of or like clothing. vb. (context archaic English) To clothe.

WordNet
vesture
  1. n. something that covers or cloaks like a garment; "fields in a vesture of green"

  2. a covering designed to be worn on a person's body [syn: clothing, article of clothing, wear]

  3. v. provide or cover with a cloak

Usage examples of "vesture".

Their number was seauen and seauen, so perfectly and sweetely counterfeited with liuelie motions, their vestures whisking vp and flying abroad, that the workman could not be accused of any imperfection, but that one had not a liuely voyce to expresse their mirth, and the other brinish teares to manifest their sorrow: the said daunce was in fashion of two Semicircles, with a seperating partition put betwixt.

I had scarse spoken these words, when he tooke me by the hand and brought mee to a certaine house, the gate whereof was closed fast, so that I went through the wicket, then he brought me into a chamber somewhat darke, and shewed me a Matron cloathed in mourning vesture, and weeping in lamentable wise.

Howbeit I had no time then to rest my selfe, for the Mother of the boy, weeping and lamenting for his death, attired in mourning vesture, tare her haire and beat her breast, and came presently into the stable, saying, Is it reason that this carelesse beast should do nothing all day but hold his head in the manger, filling and belling his guts with meat without compassion of my great miserie, or remembrance of the pittiful death of his slaine Master : and contemning my age and infirmity, thinketh that I am unable to revenge his mischiefs, moreover he would perswade me, that he were not culpable.

Chickens offered their breasts: pies hinted savoury secrets: things mystic, in a mash, with Gallic appellatives, jellies, creams, fruits, strewed the table: as a tower in the midst, the cake colossal: the priestly vesture of its nuptial white relieved by hymeneal splendours.

All were trying to smile, although with livid mouths and feverish eyes, at their first glimpse of the land of the South as it emerged from the mist bathed in the sunlight, and covered with the regal vestures of its vineyards.

Now this material circumstance having been forgot in due place, as good fortune hath ordered, comes in very properly here, when the two brothers are just going to reform their vestures into the primitive state, prescribed by their father's will.

And they dressed him gorgeously, in bright colors of hope and laughter, and when, like to a bridegroom in his bridal vestures, he sat again among them at the table, and again ate and drank, they wept, overwhelmed with tenderness.

Shall I speak of the sea, which itself is so grand a spectacle, when it arrays itself as it were in vestures of various colors, now running through every shade of green, and again becoming purple or blue?