Pronunciation: [wɜː vˈɛstɪd] (IPA) 
The phrase "were vested" is spelled with the IPA phonetic transcription /wɜːr ˈvɛstɪd/. The first part, "were," is pronounced with a long "u" sound as in "fur" followed by an "r" sound. The second part, "vested," is pronounced with a short "e" sound as in "bed," followed by a "st" sound and ending with the "id" sound. The phrase refers to an action in the past tense where ownership or power was granted to someone.
"were vested" is the past tense of the verb phrase "to be vested." The term "vested" has several meanings depending on the context.
One common usage of "were vested" relates to the acquisition or gathering of personal rights, benefits, or ownership in something, particularly in financial and legal matters. When a person or entity is vested in something, they have obtained a right or interest, usually after meeting specific conditions or completing a certain period of time.
For example, in the realm of retirement benefits, an employee may become vested in their pension plan after working for a certain number of years. This means they have earned the right to receive the benefits of the plan, even if they were to leave the company before retirement. So, if someone says "they were vested in their pension plan," it means they had fulfilled the necessary requirements and had earned the entitlements associated with the plan.
Additionally, "were vested" can also be references to clothing or attire. In this sense, being vested refers to wearing a garment that is sleeveless or has sleeves that only partially cover the arms. Common examples include vests, waistcoats, or gilets. Used in this way, it primarily represents a style or type of clothing, indicating a particular fashion choice or specific attire.
The phrase "were vested" does not have a unique etymology as it is a combination of two separate words. "Were" is the past tense of the verb "be", and "vested" is the past participle of the verb "vest".
"Vest" comes from the Old French word "vestir", which means "to dress" or "to clothe". It has Latin origins from the word "vestire". In English, the term "vested" is commonly used to indicate that a person has a legal right or claim to something, often a benefit or property.
So, the phrase "were vested" implies that someone or something was granted ownership or legal entitlement to something in the past.
