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

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

He was covered with a painted beaver robe, so that we scarcely knew him in his fine habiliment.

From Voyages from Montreal Through the Continent of North America to the Frozen and Pacific Oceans in 1789 and 1793 Vol. II by Mackenzie, Alexander

Home by his dangerous path he went; Leaving, in rich habiliment, Two Strangers at the Convent-gate.

From Poems by Rogers, Samuel