vest

[ vest ]

noun

1. a close-fitting, waist-length, sleeveless garment that buttons down the front, designed to be worn under a jacket.
2. a part or trimming simulating the front of such a garment; vestee. Compare dickey ¹( def 1 ).
3. a waist-length garment worn for protective purposes:

   a bulletproof vest.

4. a sleeveless, waist- or hip-length garment made of various materials, with a front opening usually secured by buttons, a zipper, or the like, worn over a shirt, blouse, dress, or other article for style or warmth:

   a sweater vest; a down vest.

5. British. an undervest or undershirt.
6. a long garment resembling a cassock, worn by men in the time of Charles II.
7. Archaic.
   1. dress; apparel.
   2. an outer garment, robe, or gown.
   3. an ecclesiastical vestment.

verb (used with object)

1. to clothe; dress; robe.
2. to dress in ecclesiastical vestments:

   to vest a bishop.

3. to cover or drape (an altar).
4. to place or settle (something, especially property, rights, powers, etc.) in the possession or control of someone (usually followed by in ):

   to vest authority in a new official.

5. to invest or endow (a person, group, committee, etc.) with something, as powers, functions, or rights:

   to vest the board with power to increase production; to vest an employee with full benefits in the pension plan.

verb (used without object)

1. to put on vestments.
2. to become vested in a person, as a right.
3. to devolve upon a person as possessor; pass into possession or ownership.

vest

/ vɛst /

noun

1. an undergarment covering the body from the shoulders to the hips, made of cotton, nylon, etc US and Canadian equivalentT-shirtundershirt Austral equivalentsinglet
2. a similar sleeveless garment worn as outerwear Austral equivalentsinglet
3. a man's sleeveless waistlength garment worn under a suit jacket, usually buttoning up the front Also called (in Britain and certain other countries)waistcoat
4. obsolete.
   any form of dress, esp a long robe

verb

1. trfoll byin to place or settle (power, rights, etc, in)

   power was vested in the committee

2. trfoll bywith to bestow or confer (on)

   the company was vested with authority

3. usually foll by in to confer (a right, title, property, etc, upon) or (of a right, title, etc) to pass (to) or devolve (upon)
4. tr to clothe or array
5. intr to put on clothes, ecclesiastical vestments, etc

Derived Forms

• ˈvestless, adjective
• ˈvestˌlike, adjective

Other Words From

• vestless adjective
• vestlike adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of vest¹

1375–1425; (noun) late Middle English < Italian veste robe, dress < Latin vestis garment; (v.) late Middle English < Middle French vestir < Latin vestīre to clothe, derivative of vestis; akin to wear

Word History and Origins

Origin of vest¹

C15: from Old French vestir to clothe, from Latin vestīre, from vestis clothing

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. play it close to the vest, Informal. to avoid taking unnecessary risks.

Example Sentences

He wore white gloves, a dignified long black coat, and matching pants and vest, and he carried a dark walking stick.

From The Daily Beast

Other officials told reporters that searchers also spotted a life vest and baggage in the water.

From The Daily Beast

One is reported to have blown himself up, along with many victims, but detonating a suicide vest.

From The Daily Beast

In the most recent image posted by her mother, Kristina is wearing a black vest over her skinny shoulders.

From The Daily Beast

The news reports quoted him as saying he wore the vest to celebrate Sunday Mass in Apatzingán.

From The Daily Beast

In a short time the pockets were all as full as they could hold—coat, vest, and trousers.

From Project Gutenberg

Ward sat back in his swivel chair, hooked his thumbs into the arm holes of his vest and beamed.

From Project Gutenberg

He took one up, eased a stray safety match from his vest pocket, flicked it with his fingernail, and lit up.

From Project Gutenberg

Ghurri-Wurri wore tattered white baggy trousers, vest and cloak, a turban and black goggles.

From Project Gutenberg

It is of carmine silk damask with gold thread, and the inner vest is of white lawn.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• bestow
• confer
• empower
• endow