vesture

Vesture, n.

Etymology: [OF. vesture, vesteure, F. vêture, 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) (a) The corn, grass, underwood, stubble, etc., with which land was covered; as, the vesture of an acre. (b) Seizin; possession.

Shades of meaning

Fernald has no entry of its own for vesture; he lists it under dress.

Where he writes about it:

Array, raiment, and vesture are archaic or poetic; so, too, is habit, except in technical use to denote a lady's riding-dress. — from dress

Synonyms

dress apparel array attire clothes clothing costume garb garments habiliments habit raiment robes uniform vestments

Antonyms

bareness disarray dishabille exposure nakedness nudity undress

etymology Webster’s online