vest

I. verb Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French vestir to clothe, invest, vest, from Latin vestire to clothe, from vestis clothing, garment — more at wear Date: 15th century transitive verb 1. a. to place or give into the possession or discretion of some person or authority; especially to give to a person a legally fixed immediate right of present or future enjoyment of (as an estate) b. to grant or endow with a particular authority, right, or property <

the plan vests workers with pension benefits after 10 years of service

> 2. to clothe with or as if with a garment; especially to robe in ecclesiastical vestments intransitive verb 1. to become legally vested 2. to put on garments; especially to put on ecclesiastical vestments II. noun Etymology: French veste, from Italian, from Latin vestis garment Date: 1613 1. archaic a. a loose outer garment ; robe b. clothing, garb 2. a. a sleeveless garment for the upper body usually worn over a shirt b. a protective usually sleeveless garment (as a life preserver) that extends to the waist c. an insulated sleeveless waist-length garment often worn under or in place of a coat 3. a. chiefly British a man's sleeveless undershirt b. a knitted undershirt for women 4. a plain or decorative piece used to fill in the front neckline of a woman's outer garment (as a blouse or dress) • vestlike adjective