n. [ L. Vesta, akin to Gr. "Esti`a Vesta, "esti`a the hearth of the house, and perhaps to Skr. ush to burn (see East), or perhaps to Skr. vas to dwell, and E. was. ] 1. (Rom. Myth.) One of the great divinities of the ancient Romans, identical with the Greek Hestia. She was a virgin, and the goddess of the hearth; hence, also, of the fire on it, and the family round it. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Astron.) An asteroid, or minor planet, discovered by Olbers in 1807. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. A wax friction match. Simmonds. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. Vestalis belonging to Vesta, vestal. See Vesta. ] Of or pertaining to Vesta, the virgin goddess of the hearth; hence, pure; chaste. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. Vestalis (sc. virgo): cf. F. vestale. See Vestal, a. ] 1. (Rom. Antiq.) A virgin consecrated to Vesta, and to the service of watching the sacred fire, which was to be perpetually kept burning upon her altar. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ The Vestals were originally four, but afterward six, in number. Their term of service lasted thirty years, the period of admission being from the sixth to the tenth year of the candidate's age. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A virgin; a woman pure and chaste; also, a nun. [ 1913 Webster ]

How happy is the blameless vestal's lot! Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. pl. [ NL. See Vestal. ] (Zool.) A group of butterflies including those known as virgins, or gossamer-winged butterflies. [ 1913 Webster ]