raiment

American  

[rey-muhnt] / ˈreɪ mənt /

noun

1. clothing; apparel; attire.

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raiment British  

/ ˈreɪmənt /

noun

1. archaic attire; clothing; garments

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Etymology

Origin of raiment

1350–1400; Middle English rayment, aphetic variant of arrayment. See array, -ment

Explanation

Raiment is an old-fashioned word for clothing, particularly fancy clothing, like ladies who always wore their best raiment when calling on friends. Raiment is formal clothing. It comes from the Old French word areer or "to array," which describes dressing in decorative clothing, or adorning yourself in the very best. The word raiment has mostly gone out of use, much like the rare practice of getting very dressed up.

Example Sentences

And can we not dress him instead in Raiment of Silk, and teach him to dance the Minuet—and, the dance over, bid him bow and be GONE?

From "The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Volume I: The Pox Party" by M.T. Anderson

Wherever we are we can have but Food and Raiment, and here we have as much again as we want.

From The Travels and Adventures of James Massey by Patot, Simon Tyssot de

Till He come, we fain would keep These our robes of earth unsoiled; Looking for the festal dress, Raiment of the undefiled.

From Studies in Prophecy by Gaebelein, Arno C.

I took the little ones And clasped them shivering to the virgin breast Which knew no other touch but theirs, and gave Raiment and food.

From The Epic of Hades In Three Books by Morris, Lewis, Sir

Little by little the proper balance between the Four Great Powers of human necessity,—Food, Drink, Raiment and Housing, so long disturbed by this habit, is being restored. 

From A Walk from London to John O'Groat's by Burritt, Elihu