\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.