I.imperf. vestibat, Verg. A. 8, 160; inf. vestirier, Prud. Psych. 39), v. a. vestis, to cover with a garment, to dress, clothe, vest (syn.: induo, amicio).
I. Lit.: Vatinii strumam sacerdotii διβάφὡ vestiant, Cic. Att. 2, 9, 2: “vir te vestiat, tu virum despolies,” Plaut. Cas. 4, 4, 4: “candide vestitus,” id. ib. 4, 1, 10: “vos tam maestiter vestitas,” id. Rud. 1, 5, 7: “homines male vestiti,” Cic. Pis. 25, 61: “fasciae, quibus crura vestiuntur,” Quint. 11, 3, 144: “te bis Afro Murice tinctae Vestiunt lanae,” Hor. C. 2, 16, 37: “sic Indos suae arbores vestiunt,” Plin. 12, 11, 22, § 39: “Phrygiā vestitur bucca tiarā,” Juv. 6, 516: “unam vestire tribum tua vellera possunt,” Mart. 2, 46, 5.—Mid.: vestiri in foro honeste mos erat, Cato ap. Gell. 11, 2, 5: “lino alii vestiuntur aut lanis,” Mel. 3, 7, 3.—So, in late Lat., in the active form: “tu mihi vitio dabis, quod parcius pasco, levius vestio,” am clothed, App. Mag. p. 287, 26; Tert. Pall. 1.—
B. Transf.
1. Of animals: “animantes aliae coriis tectae sunt, aliae villis vestitae,” Cic. N. D. 2, 47, 121: “sandyx pascentis vestiet agnos,” Verg. E. 4, 45: “pleraque contra frigus ex suo corpore vestiuntur,” Quint. 2, 16, 14.—
2. In gen., of inanimate things, to clothe, cover, deck, array, attire, surround, adorn, etc.: “campos lumine (aether),” Verg. A. 6, 640: “natura oculos membranis tenuissimis vestivit et saepsit,” Cic. N. D. 2, 57, 142; cf.: “deus animum circumdedit corpore et vestivit extrinsecus,” id. Univ. 6 fin.: “sepulcrum saeptum undique et vestitum vepribus et dumetis,” id. Tusc. 5, 23, 64: “his tabulis templi parietes vestiebantur,” Cic. Verr. 2, 4, 55, § 122.—
3. Esp., of vegetation: “montes silvis,” Liv. 32, 13, 3: “vite hederāque vestiti montes,” Just. 12, 7, 7.—Absol.: “montes vestiti,” i. e. covered with verdure, Cic. N. D. 2, 53, 132: “trabes multo aggere,” Caes. B. G. 7, 23; cf. “of the beard: molli lanugine malas,” Lucr. 5, 889: “genas flore,” Verg. A. 8, 160: “oleā magnum Taburnum,” Verg. G. 2, 38: “gramine vestitis accubuere toris,” Ov. F. 1, 402: “incendit vestitos messibus agros,” id. ib. 4, 707; Curt. 6, 5, 15; Prop. 3, 13 (4, 12), 31: “ubi se vites frondibus vestierint,” Col. 4, 27, 1: “se gramine (terra),” Verg. G. 2, 219.—
II. Trop., to clothe, etc.: “reconditas exquisitasque sententias mollis et pellucens vestiebat oratio,” Cic. Brut. 79, 274: “inventa vestire atque ornare oratione,” id. de Or. 1, 31, 142: “gloriā aliquem supra vires,” Hor. Ep. 1, 18, 22: “res, quae illo verborum habitu vestiuntur,” Quint. 8, praef. § 20; cf. “of mental culture: aridum atque jejunum non alemus et quasi vestiemus?” id. 2, 8, 9.—
B. Esp., to invest with the imperial purple, to make emperor: “quaere quem vestias,” Amm. 26, 4, 1.—Hence, vestītus , a, um, P. a., clothed, clad (very rare): “neque unā pelle vestitior fuit (Hercules),” App. Mag. p. 288, 28.—So comp., Tert. Anim. 38.— Sup.: “id pecus (oves) ex omnibus animalibus vestitissimum,” Col. 7, 3, 8.