A vestment is one of the special robes a priest or minister puts on to lead a church service — not ordinary clothing, but the particular garments the church sets aside for worship, often coloured to match the season or the feast.

A vestment is one of the special robesvestment 是一種特別長袍 a priest or minister puts on神父或牧師穿上的 to lead a church service用來主持禮拜 — not ordinary clothing不是一般的衣服, but the particular garments the church sets aside for worship而是教會特別為敬拜準備的服裝, often coloured to match the season or the feast顏色常常配合當季或節慶。

In practice the word is nearly always plural: *the priest's vestments*, *he was still in his vestments*. Each piece has its own name (alb, stole, chasuble), and *vestments* is the umbrella word for the whole set.

In practice the word is nearly always plural實際使用時這個字幾乎都是複數: *the priest's vestments**the priest's vestments*, *he was still in his vestments**he was still in his vestments*。Each piece has its own name (alb, stole, chasuble)每一件都有自己的名字（alb、stole、chasuble）, and *vestments* is the umbrella word for the whole set而 *vestments* 是整套的統稱。

Because the term is so tied to church use, applying it to other robes is a stretch, though writers sometimes do it for effect — describing a judge's or a professor's ceremonial gown as vestments to hint at solemnity and ritual.

Because the term is so tied to church use因為這個字跟教會用法綁得很緊, applying it to other robes is a stretch把它用在別的長袍上算是有點牽強, though writers sometimes do it for effect不過作家有時候會故意這樣用，來製造效果 — describing a judge's or a professor's ceremonial gown as vestments把法官或教授的禮袍說成 vestments to hint at solemnity and ritual暗示莊嚴和儀式感。

The tone is formal and old, and outside a church or a historical novel you will rarely hear it spoken.

The tone is formal and old這個字的語氣正式又古老, and outside a church or a historical novel除了在教會或歷史小說裡 you will rarely hear it spoken你很少會聽到有人講出來。