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Meaning of divest in English
Pronunciation
/dəˈvɛst/
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Verb
divest
Etymology
early 17th century: alteration of devest, from Old French desvestir, from des- (expressing removal) + Latin vestire (from vestis‘garment’)
Definitions
1.
take away possessions from someone
Examples
« The Nazis stripped the Jews of all their assets »
2.
deprive of status or authority
Examples
« he was divested of his rights and his title »
« They disinvested themselves of their rights »
Antonyms
invest
vest
enthrone
3.
reduce or dispose of
Examples
« cease to hold (an investment) »
« The company decided to divest »
« the board of trustees divested $20 million in real estate property »
« There was pressure on the univeristy to disinvest in South Africa »
Antonyms
invest
put
commit
place
4.
remove (someone's or one's own) clothes
Examples
« The nurse quickly undressed the accident victim »
« She divested herself of her outdoor clothes »
« He disinvested himself of his garments »