vestry

[ves-tree]

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR vestry ON THESAURUS.COM

noun, plural ves·tries.

a room in or a building attached to a church, in which the vestments, and sometimes liturgical objects, are kept; sacristy.

(in some churches) a room in or a building attached to a church, used as a chapel, for prayer meetings, for the Sunday school, etc.

Episcopal Church. a committee elected by members of a congregation to serve with the churchwardens in managing the temporal affairs of the church.

Church of England. a meeting attended by all the parishioners or by a committee of parishioners during which the official business of the church is discussed.

Origin of vestry

1350–1400; Middle English vestrie, vestrye. See vest (v.), -ery

Related formsves·tral, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for vestry

It was in the vestry where the choir was putting on its garments.
Joseph Campbell on the Roots of Halloween|Joseph Campbell|October 31, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The members of the vestry could not be supposed to escape the contagious excitement inseparable from the occasion.
Sketches by Boz|Charles Dickens
It was quickly decided, therefore, that the Judge should be the vestry's vehicle of "guidance."
Thirty|Howard Vincent O'Brien
She emerged, and walked dripping into the vestry, where it was always said that hot brandy and water was ready.
The Revolution in Tanner's Lane|Mark Rutherford

At the south-west corner, the large square canons' vestry has been built out at a later period.
Bell's Cathedrals: The Cathedral Church of Lincoln|A. F. Kendrick
The Vestry meeting at the Guildhall had been crowded to suffocation.
Yarmouth Notes|Frederick Danby Palmer

British Dictionary definitions for vestry

vestry

noun plural -tries

a room in or attached to a church in which vestments, sacred vessels, etc, are kept

a room in or attached to some churches, used for Sunday school, meetings, etc

Church of England

a meeting of all the members of a parish or their representatives, to transact the official business of the parish
the body of members meeting for this; the parish council

Episcopal Church Anglican Church a committee of vestrymen chosen by the congregation to manage the temporal affairs of their church

Derived Formsvestral, adjective

Word Origin for vestry

C14: probably from Old French vestiarie; see vest

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for vestry

late 14c., probably from Anglo-French *vesterie, from Old French vestiaire "room for vestments," from Latin vestarium "wardrobe," noun use of neuter of vestiarius (adj.) "of clothes," from vestis "garment" (see vest (v.)).

vestry

noun, plural ves·tries.

RELATED WORDS

Origin of vestry

Examples from the Web for vestry

vestry

noun plural -tries

Word Origin for vestry