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View synonyms for divest

divest

[ dih-vest, dahy- ]

verb (used with object)

  1. to strip of clothing, ornament, etc.:

    The wind divested the trees of their leaves.

    Synonyms: denude, unclothe

  2. to strip or deprive (someone or something), especially of property or rights; dispossess.
  3. to rid of or free from:

    He divested himself of all responsibility for the decision.

  4. Law. to take away or alienate (property, rights, etc.).
  5. Commerce.
    1. to sell off:

      to divest holdings.

    2. to rid of through sale:

      The corporation divested itself of its subsidiaries.



divest

/ daɪˈvɛstɪtʃə; daɪˈvɛstʃə; daɪˈvɛst /

verb

  1. to strip (of clothes)

    to divest oneself of one's coat

  2. to deprive or dispossess
  3. property law to take away an estate or interest in property vested (in a person)


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Derived Forms

  • divestiture, noun
  • diˈvestible, adjective

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Other Words From

  • undi·vested adjective

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Word History and Origins

Origin of divest1

First recorded in 1595–1605; from Medieval Latin dīvestīre, equivalent to dī- di- 2 + vestīre “to dress”; vest

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Word History and Origins

Origin of divest1

C17: changed from earlier devest

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Synonym Study

See strip 1.

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Example Sentences

The time is ripe—and right—for action to begin that would divest Russia of the World Cup and award it to another nation.

Waters has become a regular of the various campaigns to boycott, divest from, and sanction Israel.

The Presbyterians decided to divest in 2004, and the reaction from establishment Jewish organizations was swift.

They put all their weight into defeating the proposal to divest--and they won, but by a measly two votes.

Their first goal would be to force the university endowments to divest themselves of shares in these banks.

I endeavoured to divest myself of all selfish bias, and loved more and more to inquire into religious subjects.

So shall you compass the glory of the whole world, and divest yourself of the abjectness of humanity.

Yet if we could only divest it of its evil smell, the wild Wood Garlick would rank among the most beautiful of our British plants.

So we see that the State of Illinois did not quite divest itself of the barbarisms of the common law.

Divest chivalry of the religious element, and you take away its glory and its fascination.

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Divesdivestible