Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of Vest?

\Vest\, n. [L. vestis a garment, vesture; akin to Goth. wasti, and E. wear: cf. F. veste. See {Wear} to carry on the person, and cf. {Divest}, {Invest}, {Travesty}.] 1. An article of clothing covering the person; an outer garment; a vestment; a dress; a vesture; a robe. In state attended by her maiden train, Who bore the vests that holy rites require. --Dryden. 2. Any outer covering; array; garb. Not seldom clothed in radiant vest Deceitfully goes forth the morn. --Wordsworth. 3. Specifically, a waistcoat, or sleeveless body garment, for men, worn under the coat. Syn: Garment; vesture; dress; robe; vestment; waistcoat. Usage: {Vest}, {Waistcoat}. In England, the original word waistcoat is generally used for the body garment worn over the shirt and immediately under the coat. In the United States this garment is commonly called a vest, and the waistcoat is often improperly given to an under-garment.
\Vest\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Vested}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Vesting}.] [Cf. L. vestire, vestitum, OF. vestir, F. v[^e]tir. See {Vest}, n.] 1. To clothe with, or as with, a vestment, or garment; to dress; to robe; to cover, surround, or encompass closely. Came vested all in white, pure as her mind. --Milton. With ether vested, and a purple sky. --Dryden. 2. To clothe with authority, power, or the like; to put in possession; to invest; to furnish; to endow; -- followed by with before the thing conferred; as, to vest a court with power to try cases of life and death. Had I been vested with the monarch's power. --Prior. 3. To place or give into the possession or discretion of some person or authority; to commit to another; -- with in before the possessor; as, the power of life and death is vested in the king, or in the courts. Empire and dominion was [were] vested in him. --Locke. 4. To invest; to put; as, to vest money in goods, land, or houses. [R.] 5. (Law) To clothe with possession; as, to vest a person with an estate; also, to give a person an immediate fixed right of present or future enjoyment of; as, an estate is vested in possession. --Bouvier.
\Vest\, v. i. To come or descend; to be fixed; to take effect, as a title or right; -- followed by in; as, upon the death of the ancestor, the estate, or the right to the estate, vests in the heir at law.