Word of the Day

Sunday, February 10, 2008

raiment

\RAY-ment\ , noun;

Clothing in general; garments; -- usually singular in form, with a collective sense.

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Quotes:

People want "habitations for shelter and safety, and raiment for warmth and decency."

-- Richard A. Epstein, Principles for a Free Society

Agog with expectation, Stella opened her package and found not the golden raiment of a queen or a princess, but the drab uniform of a cook. She wept for the rest of the day.

-- William Weaver, "Almost Irresistible Stella", New York Times, March 4, 1984

A man in his Sunday raiment, lemon-yellow gloves even, was visible inside the window.

-- H.G. Wells, The War of the Worlds

Origin:

Raiment is from Middle English rayment, short for arrayment, from arrayen, "to array."