Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Divest
Di-vest′
,Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Divested
; p. pr. & vb. n.
Divesting
.] 1.
To unclothe; to strip, as of clothes, arms, or equipage; – opposed to
invest
. 2.
Fig.: To strip; to deprive; to dispossess;
as, to
divest
one of his rights or privileges; to divest
one’s self of prejudices, passions, etc.Wretches
divested
of every moral feeling. Goldsmith.
The tendency of the language to
divest
itself of its gutturals. Earle.
Webster 1828 Edition
Divest
DIVEST
,Verb.
T.
1.
To strip of clothes, arms or equipage; opposed to invest.2.
To deprive; as, to divest one of his rights or privileges; to divest one of title or property.3.
To deprive or strip of any thing that covers , surrounds or attends; as, to divest one of his glory; to divest a subject of deceptive appearances, or false ornaments.Definition 2024
divest
divest
English
Verb
divest (third-person singular simple present divests, present participle divesting, simple past and past participle divested)
- (transitive, archaic) To undress, disrobe.
- 1897, Henry James, What Maisie Knew:
- Having divested the child he kissed her gently and gave her a little pat to make her stand off.
- 1897, Henry James, What Maisie Knew:
- (transitive) To strip, deprive, or dispossess (someone) of something (such as a right, passion, privilege, or prejudice).
- You shall never divest me of my right to free speech.
- When I wake up, I make a point to divest myself of all my prejudices, ready to start the day.
- (transitive) To sell off or be rid of through sale, especially of a subsidiary
- In 2011 the company divested an 81% majority stake in its foreign subsidiary.
- As Glasgow becomes the first university in Europe to divest from fossil fuels.
Usage notes
In sense "sell off", stronger than related disinvest, which instead means "reduce or cease new investment".
Antonyms
Related terms
Translations
undress — see undress
to strip, deprive, or dispossess of something
to sell off
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