habiliment

American  

[huh-bil-uh-muhnt] / həˈbɪl ə mənt /

noun

1. Usually habiliments.

   1. clothes or clothing.

   2. clothes as worn in a particular profession, way of life, etc.

2. habiliments, accouterments or trappings.

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habiliment British  

/ həˈbɪlɪmənt /

noun

1. (often plural) dress or attire

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Other Word Forms

• habilimental adjective
• habilimentary adjective
• habilimented adjective

Etymology

Origin of habiliment

1375–1425; late Middle English ( h ) abylement < Middle French habillement, equivalent to habill ( er ), abill ( ier ) to trim a log, hence, dress, prepare (< Vulgar Latin *adbiliare; a- ⁵, billet ² ) + -ment -ment

Explanation

Habiliment is an old-fashioned word for "clothing." You may want to get up extra early on the first day of school so you have time to choose the perfect habiliments to wear. When you come across this unusual word, you'll almost always see it in its plural form, habiliments. In this way, it's similar to the word clothes — and they also share a meaning, "items worn to cover the body." The original 15th-century definition of habiliments was "weapons or munitions," from the Middle French word abiller, "prepare or fit out."

Example Sentences

Playwright Dorranee Davis has woven an ancient habiliment for his modern comedy.

From Time Magazine Archive

The old part of the town, fiercely antebellum, rested in the stillest slackwater celebration of itself, in the habiliment of azaleas cutting into shadows with a soft-winged blue, or a deepening ruby.

From "The Great Santini" by Pat Conroy

The fever departed, and Dr. Trefusis now in health, he walked abroad, dressed in his stolen habiliment, swinging a cane like a beau of the first fashion.

From "The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Volume II: The Kingdom on the Waves" by M.T. Anderson

Above this habiliment there shone like decorations of honor many flowers, yellow, white, blue, or pink, quick to fill the ambient air with the sweet perfumes stored up in their hearts.

From The Marquis of Pe?alta (Marta y Mar?a) A Realistic Social Novel by Palacio Vald?s, Armando

The whole of his habiliment seemed of foreign manufacture; but his air had something in it that was wild, and uncouth; and his head was continually in motion.

From The Wanderer (Volume 2 of 5) or, Female Difficulties by Burney, Fanny