vestis, is, f. [Sanscr. root vas-, to put on; Gr. ἑς-, ϝες-; cf. ἕννυμι, ἐσθής], the covering for the body, clothes, clothing, attire, vesture (syn. amictus; in class. prose only sing.).
I Lit.: lavere lacrimis vestem squalam et sordidam, Enn. ap. Non. 172, 20 (Trag. v. 370 Vahl.): mulierem cum auro et veste abducere, Plaut. Curc. 2, 3, 69: satin' haec me vestis deceat, these clothes , id. Most. 1, 3, 10: discidit vestem, Ter. Ad. 121: lugubris, id. Heaut. 286; id. Eun. 572: ad vestem muliebrem conficiendam, Cic. Verr. 2, 4, 46, § 103; id. Phil. 2, 27, 66; id. de Or. 1, 35, 161: sumptā veste virili, Hor. S. 1, 2, 16; 1, 2, 95; id. Ep. 1, 19, 38 al.—
2 Esp.: mutare vestem.
α To put on mourning garments , put on mourning (cf. sordidatus), Cic. Planc. 12, 29; id. Sest. 11, 26; Liv. 6, 20, 2; cf.: quid vestis mutatio'st? Ter. Eun. 671: cum dolorem suum vestis mutatione declarandum censuisset, Cic. Pis. 8, 17.—
β Also in gen., to change one's clothing , Ter. Eun. 609; Liv. 22, 1, 3; Sen. Ep. 18, 2; Vell. 2, 41, 2.—
3 In sing. collect., = vestes: multam pretiosam supellectilem vestemque missam Carthaginem, Liv. 21, 15, 2; so id. 26, 21, 8; 31, 17, 6; 39, 6, 7; 44, 26, 9.—
B Plur. , clothes , garments (poet. and in postAug. prose): aurum vestibus illitum Mirata, Hor. C. 4, 9, 14: picturatae auri subtemine vestes, Verg. A. 3, 483: vestibus extentis, Juv. 12, 68: quod in vestes, margarita, gemmas fuerat erogaturus, Plin. Ep. 5, 16, 7; Quint. 6, 1, 30; 9, 4, 4; 11, 1, 31; Curt. 3, 13, 7; 5, 1, 10; Sen. Ep. 114, 11; id. Ben. 7, 9, 5; 7, 20, 2; Plin. 19, 1, 2, § 14; Suet. Tib. 36; id. Gram. 23; Tac. A. 2, 24; 3, 53; 12, 68. —
II Transf., of any sort of covering.
1 A carpet , curtain , tapestry (syn. stragulum): in plebeiā veste cubandum est, Lucr. 2, 36; Cic. Verr. 2, 5, 56, § 146; Ov. M. 8, 659; Hor. S. 2, 4, 84; 2, 6, 103; 2, 6, 106 al. —
2 Poet.
α A veil , Stat. Th. 7, 244.—
β The skin of a serpent, Lucr. 4, 61; cf. id. 3, 614.—
γ The beard as the covering of the chin, Lucr. 5, 673 (cf. vesticeps and investis).—
δ A spider's web , Lucr. 3, 386.