Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun A liturgical vestment consisting of an oblong piece of white linen worn around the neck and shoulders and partly under the alb.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun . A loose wrap or cloak.
  • noun In the Roman Catholic Church and in many Anglican churches, an oblong piece of linen, large enough to cover the shoulders, worn with the upper edge fastened round the neck, under the alb, whenever the latter vestment is used.
  • noun Also written amict.
  • noun A furred hood having long ends hanging down the front of the dress, something like the stole, worn by the clergy from the thirteenth to the fifteenth century for warmth when officiating in the church during inclement weather.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • noun A square of white linen worn at first on the head, but now about the neck and shoulders, by priests of the Roman Catholic Church while saying Mass.
  • noun (Eccl.) A hood, or cape with a hood, made of lined with gray fur, formerly worn by the clergy; -- written also amess, amyss, and almuce.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun A hood, or cape with a hood, made of or lined with grey fur, formerly worn by the clergy.

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[Middle English, probably from Old French amis, pl. of amit, from Latin amictus, mantle, from past participle of amicīre, to wrap around : am-, ambi-, around; see ambi– + iacere, to throw; see yē- in Indo-European roots.]

Support

Help support Wordnik (and make this page ad-free) by adopting the word amice.

Examples

Comments

Log in or sign up to get involved in the conversation. It's quick and easy.

  • It's a wrap!

    April 29, 2012