divest

[ dih-vest, dahy- ]
See synonyms for: divestdivested on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object)
  1. to strip of clothing, ornament, etc.: The wind divested the trees of their leaves.

  2. to strip or deprive (someone or something), especially of property or rights; dispossess.

  1. to rid of or free from: He divested himself of all responsibility for the decision.

  2. Law. to take away or alienate (property, rights, etc.).

  3. Commerce.

    • to sell off: to divest holdings.

    • to rid of through sale: The corporation divested itself of its subsidiaries.

Origin of divest

1
First recorded in 1595–1605; from Medieval Latin dīvestīre, equivalent to dī-di-2 + vestīre “to dress”; see vest

synonym study For divest

2. See strip1.

Other words for divest

Other words from divest

  • un·di·vest·ed, adjective

Words Nearby divest

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use divest in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for divest

divest

/ (daɪˈvɛst) /


verb(tr usually foll by of)
  1. to strip (of clothes): to divest oneself of one's coat

  2. to deprive or dispossess

  1. property law to take away an estate or interest in property vested (in a person)

Origin of divest

1
C17: changed from earlier devest

Derived forms of divest

  • divestible, adjective
  • divestiture (daɪˈvɛstɪtʃə), divesture (daɪˈvɛstʃə) or divestment, noun

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