vestry
pronunciation
How to pronounce vestry in British English:
UK [ˈvestri]
How to pronounce vestry in American English:
US [ˈvɛstri]
-
- Noun:
- in the Protestant Episcopal Church: a committee elected by the congregation to work with the churchwardens in managing the temporal affairs of the church
- a room in a church where sacred vessels and vestments are kept or meetings are held
Word Origin
- vestry
- vestry: see vest
- vestry (n.)
- mid-15c., probably from Anglo-French *vesterie, from Old French vestiaire "room for vestments, dressing room" (12c.), from Latin vestarium "wardrobe," noun use of neuter of vestiarius (adj.) "of clothes," from vestis "garment" (see vest (v.)). Often also a meeting room for the transaction of parish business, and retained in non-liturgical churches as the name of a separate room used for Sunday school, prayer meetings, etc., hence transferred secular use (as in vestryman, 1610s).
Example
- 1. A dressing room , cloakroom , or vestry .
- 2. Hiding in the vestry she recites her lines , she says .
- 3. How can a bishop marry ? How can he flirt ? The most he can say is : " I will see you in the vestry after service . "
- 4. Although van loon served briefly on the vestry , he regarded the worship services as dispensable " hors d ' 'oeuvres . "