vesture

Vesture is a noun that denotes clothing or garments, and, in some contexts, the act of clothing someone. The term is largely archaic or literary in modern English, but it remains common in historical writing and in discussions of ceremonial dress. Etymologically, vesture derives from Middle English vesture, from Old French vesture and ultimately from Latin roots related to vestis, meaning garment.

As a general term, vesture can describe the wardrobe of a person or group, especially in reference to a particular era or social status. Phrases such as "the vesture of mourning" or "royal vesture" illustrate its use as a synonym for attire or dress, rather than for the function of clothing.

In religious contexts, vesture often refers to liturgical garments worn by clergy during services. While the more common term in contemporary usage is vestments, vesture appears in older and ecclesiastical prose to mean the whole set of ceremonial clothing, or to emphasize the garments themselves. Typical items associated with liturgical vesture include the alb, stole, chasuble, and cope. The care, selection, and proper donning of these garments are described in rubrics and ceremonial books.

Beyond ceremonial use, vesture may appear in literature and art to convey character, rank, or mood through attire. In general, the term has largely given way to more everyday words like clothing, garments, or attire, but it persists in historical or formal contexts.