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VEST.
initiate's vest.. hung out under my cuirass. 1839 Cassan
Bps. Bath 4- iVells 162 He gave also many splendid vests
to the Churches of Bath and Wells.
3. a. A sleeveless garment of some length
worn by men beneath the coat. (Introduced by
Charles II ; see first quot.) Now? Hist. b. A
short garment worn beneath the coat or jacket as
1887 Lady's IVorld June 256/1 Vests of spotted kersey,
mere, .are made with military collars and two pockets. X913
Daily Graphic 26 Mar. 12/4 The bodices having vests ana
collars of ecru lace. 1913 flay Pictorial Ho. 134P. ii/i It
also vest-pooket voter U.S. (see quot. 1883).
1813 Mass. Spy 3 Dec. (Thornton), He found him asleep,
took from his vest pocket the key [etc.]. i8>8 Webster,
I'estlng, cloth for vests; vest patterns. 1879 G. W. Cable
Grandlsslmes xliii, I could be a confectioner, a milliner, a
dressmaker, a vest-maker. 1883 in Bryce Amer. Comiinv.
(1888) III. V. Ixxxix. 217 The class of 'vest-pocket voters'
—men who come to the polls with their tickets made up,
to the confusion of ' the boys.'
Vest (vest), V. Also 5 Sc. west. [ad. OF.
vestir (mod.F. vetir, = Sp. and Pg. vestir. It.
vestire) :— L. vestire to clothe, f. veslis clothing
see prec.]
I. 1. trans. To place, settle, or secure (something)
in the possession of a person or persons
= Invest v. 6. Chiefly in passive, and usually
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const, in (rarely upon or vnth).
to estates, rights, titles, etc.
a. \Vith reference
e 1415 Wyntoi;n Cron. viil xL 7089 Al Gascon wi)>e >>e
portynance To be insesit and westit He and al his ayris
ijwhit. J47S Rolls o/Parlt. VI. 147/1 That all such astate,
title, right,.. and possession .. in the same persone and
persones and their heires be vested. 1503-4 Act 19 Hen.
yil, c. 34 § 7 The seid Castels .. [shall] in the same persone
or persones and their heires be vested and they therin be
intiteled. 1585 Holinsmed Hist. Scot, in Chron. II. 244/a
The ri§ht of which countie king Dauid affirmed to be
iustlie m him.. as truelie vested in his possession by the
forfeiture. 1650 yimi. Hammond's Addr. |6o. 24 What is
vested in me, I may give or derive to another; what is
intrusted onely, I cannot. 1651 N. Bacon Disc. Govt. Eng.
II. viii. (1739) 53 No Legiance is due to him, before the Crown
IS vested upon him. 1701 Lond. Gaz. No. 3830/4 Until all the
said Estates and Interests vested in them are disposed of.
1758 in Naime Peerage Evid. (1874) 68 The late act of
parliament vesting the estates of certain traitors in his
majesty. 1818 Cruisb Digest (ed. 2) II. 22 There were no
words to vest the portions in the daughters till a marriage
with consent. 1847 Bright Sp., Ireland 13 Dec (1876) 1^3
A bill with this title to vest the ownership of the land with
the present occupiers. i8«8 Ld. St. Leonards Handy Bk.
Prop. Law xvi. 107 The Court may direct the parts so laid
out to remain vested in the trustees.
b. With reference to power or authority.
1659 Hammond Oh Ps. Ixxx. 17 By which the power is
vested on him. 1671 Marvill Reh. Traiisp. u 98 The
Government of Religion was vested in Princes by an ante-
cedent right to ChrisL 1691 T. H(ai.e] Acc. New Invent.
p. .
Ixxxvu, That power of abating Nusances . is vested in
both of their Offices, both by Grant and Prescription. 1756
C. Lucas Ess. Waters III. 244 There is a particular jurST
diction vested in the officers. 1774 Pennant Tour Scott, in
'77^t .45 The right of voting is vested by burgess tenure in
certain houses. i8ai W«lleslev in Owen Desp. (1877) 210
It IS my intention to proceed immediately to vest the
administration of the ceded districts in the hands of the
Company's civil servants. 1841 Elphinstone Hist. India
I. 37 The government of the society thus constituted was
vested in an absolute monarch. 1867 Freeman Norm. Cony.
'•533 That va?ue power of recommending a successor
which the Law vested in him.
C. transf,
1*49 RusKiN Stv. Lamps v. fai. 157 If completeness is
159
thought to be vested in polish, and to be attainable by help
of sand paper. 1852 Thackeray Esmond i. iii, Proud of
this confidence and secret vested in him.
2. To put, place, or establish (a person) in full
or legal possession or occupation of something
= Invest v. 5. Chiefly in passive, and usually
const, in (or t ?/^)-
In early use only Sc. in the phrase vested (also vest) and
seized.
1464 in Acc. Fam. Innes (1864) 78 The said schir Robert
deyt last ves(t]it and sesit as of fee. 1488 Acta Dom. Audit.
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a nsual part of male attire ; a waistcoat.
l6«« Pepvs Diary 8 Oct., Vhe King hath yesterday, in
Council, declared his resolution of setting a fashion for
clothes. . . It will be a vest, 1 know not well how ; but it is
• to teach the nobility thrift. Ibid, 15 Oct., This day the
King begins to put on his vest;. .being a long cassocke
close to the body, of black cloth, and pinked with white silk
under it, and a coat over it, and the legs rutHed with black
riband like a pigeon's leg. 1667 in Vertiey Mem. (1907) II.
300, 1 doubt the old fellow must have a new vest and tunick.
z668 Etheredgk She rvoutd ifshe cottldiw. iii, You are not
To learn.. how absolutely necessary A rich Vest and a
Perruque are to a man that aims At their favours. 171a
Overseers' Ace. Holy Crass, Canterb., Payd for mackin a
west and briches for gouddins child, [^Jo. i. 6. i8t8 Scott
Roi Roy V, She wore.. a coat, vest, and hat, resembling
those of a man. 1848 Thackeray Van. Fair lix, Provided
with some of the most splendid vests that Calcutta could
furnish. 1907 Dully .Veios 3 Sept. 3/2 Lightish striped
cashmere trousers would not be correct.. if worn with a
dark blue coat and vest.
presently inquired for the principal magistrate of the town,
trans/. 1830 Whittier Mogf Megone 1237 The rivets of
the vest Which girds in steel his ample breast. 1863 Bates
Nat. Amazon viii. (1864) 220 A bird resembling our starling
in size .
. and not unlike it in colour with the exception of the
rich rosy vest. 1876 Hollasd Sev. Oaks i. Among the
charms that dangled from this liquid chain—depending from
the vest of a landscape, which ended in a ruffle of woods.
O. A knitted or woven undergarment for the
upper part of the body, worn next to the skin.
i8ji Catiit. Gt. F.xhlb. iii. 583/1 Cotton,. .spun silk,
merino and Cashmere gentlemen's and ladies* vests. 1883
' SVLVIA ' Lady's Guide to Home Dressm. », Millinery xiiL
107 [List of under-linen], 4 merino vests, [/Jo 5 9.
d. Part of a woman's dress bodice, consisting of
a collar and front, asoally of lace, net, silk, or other
soft material.
(a ' waistcoat blotLse '] has a soft net vest that ends in short
sharp points.
e. atlrib. and Comb., as vtst-maker, -pocket;
b. To invest (a person) witA some quality, esp.
power, authority, etc. Chiefly in passive.
1674 Owen Holy Spirit (1693) 126 It is his Person as
vested with all his Offices, that is the immediate Fountain
of all Grace unto us. 1699 Burnet 29 Art. iv. (1700) 67 He
is vested with an unconceivable hign degree of Glory, 1719
De Foe Crusoe 11. (Globe) 574 God's most glorious and
best Creature,. . vested with a reasonable Soul- 1717 —
Hist. Appar. iv. (1840) 32 They may be reasonably supposed
to be vested with the same powers. 1771 Goldsm.
Hist. Eng. IV. 13 [He was] created a peer, and was soon
after vested with the dignity of chancellor. 1797 Ht. Lee
Canterb. T., Old Woman's T. (IJ99! I. 361 [Thou] art
vested with the mission of thy.. king. 1803 in Gurwood
Wellington's Desp. (18^7) II. 50 note, I further vest you
with full powers to decide any question which may arise.
1817 Jas. Mill Brit. Indiall. iv. ix. 288 To vest the officers
of the Crown in India with powers independent of the
Company. 1844 H. H. Wilson Brit. India I. 227 The
Indian Government was vested with the power of sovereignty
within its own limits.
o. To endow formally or legally with some
possession or property.
1756 Anson's Voyages (eA.%) \. v. 70 This company, in
consideration of a sum paid to the king, is vested with the
property of all diamonds found in Brazil. 1858 in J. B.
Norton Topics 246 We propose .. that every ryot should be
vested with the freeholtl of his farm.
3. intr. To become vested (in a person) ; to pass
into possession ; to descend or devolve upon one as
possessor.
(1839) '^3/2 It beis piefit (>at Williame |)e barde deit last
westit and Sesit in t>e said landis. 1557 Rec. Inverness
(New Spald. 01.) 1.6 For sesing takyn of all landis Wilyam
Paterson his fadyr deit last vestit and sesit conforme to his
serwing. IS97 Burgk Rec. Glasgo^u (liib) I. 186 All landis,
rowmes, heretageis,. .quhairin he deitt last vest and seasit.
167a Petty Pol. Anal. (1691) 329 Of which the Irish that
are vested by restoration, seem rather to take part with the
divested.
174J
Fielding Tom Jones ix. iv, The sergeant
and was informed by my landlord that he himself was vested
in that office, a 1774 Goldsm. Hist. Greece I. io3 Kliltiades
thus vested in the supreme command [etc.]. 1905 Times
8 June 6/4 The Government proposed that the Free Church
should be vested in the property to be allocated to her.
Jig. 1654 H. L'Estrangk Chas. I (1655) 126 Not all his
most gracious and debonair mine towards them could vest
him in that Nations affections, f 1680 Beveridce Serm.
(1729) I. 29 In order to their being actually vested in that
salvation. 1705 Stanhope /"ara/Ar. II. 442 All, who partake
of this Nature, are not onljj certain of, but may in some
sense be said already vested in, the Happiness, which [etc.].
IS9> West \st Pt. Symbol. $ 44 Euerie estate either
executed maintenant, or executorie by limitation of use,
which vesteth in possession by vertue of the Statute of 27
H. 8. 1847 N. Bacon Disc. Govt. Eng. i. xli. (1739) 66 In
those days the title vested not unless the Child opened his
eyes, a 1715 Burnet Own Time (1766) II. 137 If the Duke
came to be King, the prerogative would by that vest in
him. 1765 Blackstone Comm. I. 196 For the right of the
crown vests, .upon his heir. 1818 Cruise Digest (ed. 2) VI.
500 The Court held.. that the whole estate vested in L.
his executors and administrators. 1827 Jarman Powells
Devises 1 1. 223 The principle . . does not apply, if there be an
express declaration that the land shall vest at twenty.one.
1865 Lowell Reconstruct. Prose Wks. 1890 V. 227 In all
cases of land granted to freedmen no title should vest till a
fair price had been paid. 1885 Sir R. Bacgallav in Law
Times' Rep. LII. 671/2 The property vests in the official
receiver oua trustee.
n. 4. trans. In pa. pple. : Dressed, clothed,
robed in some garment. Also without const.
{spec, with reference to ecclesiastical vestments).
1513 Douglas Mnetd vil. ii. 3 And heich abuf. .cleirlie
schane Aurora vestit into broun sanguane. Ibid. xi. 29 In
rob ryall vestit,. .And ryche purpour. 1581 N. T. (Rhem.)
Rev. 1. 13 One like to the Sonne of man, vested in a priestly
garment to the foote. i6n I. W. Ouiiin's Sp. Gram. 297 He
..sales that a Frier stayes for you readie vested at the Altar.
c 165s Milton Sonn. xxiii. My late espoused Saint. .Came
vested all in white, pure as her mind, a 1668 Davenant
Fair Favorite Wks. (1673) 97 Your Brother (Madam) and
he brings A Lady with him, vested like a Nun. 17x8 Ozell
Ir. Tourr.efort's Voy. I. 92 The Priest being vested, sets
about the Preparation of the Bread and Wine at the little
Altar. i;r6i Brit. Mag. II. 362 On the dexter side, a pilgrim
or friar, vested in russet. 1849 Rock Ch. of Fathers
l.v.(iy)3) I. 328 The thurifers and taper-bearers, in our large
collegiate and cathedral churches, were vested in tunicles.
1859 Jephson Brittany vi. 76 A priest, vested in surplice
and stole.
b. transf. s.nd.fig. Also const, with.
1679 Drydkn Troll, tf Cress. Pref, Ess. (Ker) I. 219
Spirits, according to Plato, are vested with a subtle body.
a 1706 Evelyn Hist. Pelig. (1850) I. 81 We see other living
creatures come vested, armed, able immediately to find their
pasture, a 1711 Prior Dial, ietiv. Charles ff Clenard T 18
Hast thou not seen me . . vested in all the Types and Ornaments
that Human Greatness is capable of receiving. 1805
D_. Johnston Serm. for Blind ^^ The brightest ornaments
with which our natures can be vested. 1865 Neale Hymns
Paradise 8 The Saints, in beauty vested.
5. Of a garment : To clothe or cover (a person).
Mfjofig. Cf. Invest v. i b.
VESTA.
1581 Stanvhurst jEneis \. (Arb.) 38 Which plad vested
Helen, from Greece when to Troy she flitted. i8ia Cary
Dante, Parad. XXL 59 The light that vests me.
6. To dress (a person) in a robe or garment, esp.
as a formal act or ceremony. Cf. Invest v. i.
In the 17th cenL chiefly with reference to Oriental usage
1648 W L. Ncwesfr. Turkie 7 My Lord was privatly
informed he intended an affront by not Vesting him 1670
Clarendon Hist. Reb. xv. §47 The Speaker .. vested him
with a rich purple Velvet Robe lined with Ermines. 1695
Voy. Eng. Merch. to Tadtnor in Misc. Cur. (1708) III. 130
To draw him near the City, he vested and caressed some of
his Followers. 1840 H. Jolly Sunday Services 219 The
words formerly pronounced at vesting the baptized with
their white garments, were very solemnly exprtssive. 1868
Gladstone Juv. Muttdi viii. 292 The Charites receive her
on her return from the scene of the Net to Cyprus, where
they bathe, anoint, and vest her.
fig. 1639 G. Daniel Ecclus. ii. 71 Prepare their hearts,
and in Humilitye New vest their Soules.
b. Eccl. To diape or cover (an altar).
1867 Portuary Calendar p. v, Our right.. to vest the
Altar in colours . . is grounded on the old law of the English
church. 1874 MiCKLETHWAlTE Mod. Par. Churches 305 It
IS best for the ends as well as the front of an altar to be
vested. 18^5 Eiicycl. Brit. I. 641/2 Altars are 'vested'
during service; that is, covered with cloths of various
kinds.
7. refl. To apparel or robe (oneself), esp. in
ecclesiastical vestments. Also /f^.
a 1668 Lassels Voy. Italy (1698) 1. 41 Thinking it had
been a priest putting on the amice and vesting himself to
say Mass. vjv] De Foe Hist. Appar. iv. (1840) 30 If we
grant that spirit, may vest itself so with flesh and blood.
1748 Richardson Clarissa (181 1) VIII. 63, 1 shall vest myself,
as I may say, in classical armour, c 1771 in E. H.
Burton Life Bp. Challoner {igoCf) I. ix. 140 Just before the
Bishop vested hiinself to say Mass. 189a C. E. Norton
Dante's Parad. iii. 17 There are who vest and veil themselves.
1905 R. Bagot Passport xvii. 159 Don Agostino
disappeared into the sacristy to vest himself.
b. absol. in tiie same sense.
188a Maskell Anc. Liturgy Ch. Eng. (ed. 3) 219 A com-
mon custom .
. that thepriest (whether or not he vested before
the altar) should vest in the sanctuary. 1892 in A. E. Lee
Hist. Columbus (Ohio) II. 657 Ihe imposing procession.,
moved .
. up the main aisle to the sanctuary where the
celebrant vested.
IIL 8. trans. — Invest v. o. Now rare or
Ois.
1710 De Foe Crusoe i. (Globe) 36 The Merchant, .vesting
this Hundred Pounds in English Goods. 1771 H. Walpolk
Vertue's Anecd. Paint. (1786) IV. 139 He was then in good
circumstances, and it was said came to vest his money in
our stocks. 1794 Burke Corr. (1844) IV. 247 He vested in
some kind of property.. all, or almost all, that he had
brought out of France. 1804 Earl Lauderd. Publ. Wealth
(1819) 178 He vests his capital either in seed.. or in a stock
of cattle. 184s M'CuLLOCH Taxation Introd. (1852) ii
Her capitalists were tempted to vest very large sums in
foreign countries. 1863 [see Vested ppl. a. 3).
Vest, southern SlE. var. Fast o. ; obs. Sc. f.
West.
II Vesta (ve-sta). Also4Ve«te. [L. K«/a,the
goddess of that name (see sense 1) answering to
the Gr. 'EtrTia, identical with koTta hearth, house,
household.]
1. Mythol. A Roman femaledivinity, the daughter
of Saturn, goddess of the hearth and household.
1387 Trevisa Higden iRolls) III. 73 He jaf a temple.,
wif fyre to (>e goddes Vesta and here maydenes to be
worschippcd. 1300 Gower Conf. II. 157 Sche which was
the Prioresse In Vestes temple the gcddesse. 1513 Douglas
jUneid 11. v. 91 The..garlandis Of Vesta, goddes of the
erd and fyre. 1589 Greene Roumielay Poems (1876) 102
Vesta's virgins with their holy fires Do cleanse the thoughts
that fancy hath defiled. x6oo Holland Livy xxviii. xi. 676
Ihe minds of men were put in feare, for the going out of the
fire in the chappell of Vesta. ^633 Milton Penserosoi-} \a
thou art higher far descended, Thee brighthair'd Vesta..
To solitary Saturn bore. 1697 Dryden /Eneid 11. 395 He
said, and brought me.. The venerable statues of the gods,
With ancient Vesta from the sacred choir. 1718 Chambers
Cycl. s.v. Vestals, The Romans were not the only People
who kept the perpetual Fire of Vesta, in imitation of the
celestial Fires. i8ao Shelley Witch All. xxxiv, Couchetl
..as on Vesta's sceptre a swift flame. 1843 Penny Cycl.
XXVI. 285/1 Vesta was regarded as the goddess of domestic
union and happiness. 1888 Encycl. Brit. XXIV. 193/1 If
ever the sacred fire of Vesta did go out, the negligent vestal
was to be punbhed by scourging.
altrib. 1888 Encycl. Brit. XXIV. 193/1 Fire was solemnly
sent from the prytaneum or Vesta temple of the mother
colony.
2. Astr. One of the minor planets, revolving in
an orbit between Mars and Jupiter.
tier) Phil. Trans. XCVH. 245 Observations and Measurements
of the Planet Vesta. 1843 Penny Cycl. XXVI. 285/2
Vesta performs its revolution in about 1326 mean solar
days. x868 Lockyer Guillemin's Heavens (^6. 2) ^'^a'^^^
distance, and other elements of the orbit of Vesta, presented
serious differences both with this theory and Bode's law.
3. Used as the distinctive name of a special make
of household stove.
1843 PennyCycl. XXVIL ' 68/2 In. .the Vesta stove ',.
the ashes can be raked from the grate .. without any dust
rising into the room. 1843 Civil Eng. ^ Arch. Jml. VI.
422/2 The various stoves, Vesta, Chunk, &c., . . are all
founded on the Arnott Stove.
4. A kind of wax match. Orig. atlrib.
1839 Cath. Sinclair Holiday House ii. 25 Laura afterwards
singed a hole in her muslin frock, while lighting
one of the Vesta matches to seal these numerous notes.
i8s7 Act 20