investiture

[in-ves-ti-cher, -choor]

noun

1. the act or process of investing.

2. the formal bestowal, confirmation, or presentation of rank, office, or a possessory or prescriptive right, usually involving the giving of insignia or an official title.

3. the state of being invested, as with a garment, quality, or office.

4. something that covers or adorns.

5. Archaic.,  something that invests.

investiture

/ ɪnˈvɛstɪtʃə /

noun

1. the act of presenting with a title or with the robes and insignia of an office or rank

2. (in feudal society) the formal bestowal of the possessory right to a fief or other benefice

3. a less common word for investment

Other Word Forms

• investitive adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of investiture¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Medieval Latin investītūra, equivalent to investīt(us) (past participle of investīre “to install”; invest ) + -ūra -ure

Example Sentences

The King expressed delight at her recollection of his 1969 investiture as the Prince of Wales when he was 21, laughing at Mrs Caterham's comment about being the subject of many girls' affection.

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Stephen, who attended the investiture along with his mum Joan and sisters Karen Murray and Christine Davies, said his dad's honour had been "a long time coming".

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Recipients can select their investiture's date and location but not which member of the Royal Family will preside over the ceremony.

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The MSP said she was looking forward to her investiture and hoped to take her sister and husband along because they had "sacrificed a lot over the years for my activism".

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Lennon and Ono's visit to north Wales was just days before Prince Charles' investiture as the Prince of Wales at Caernarfon Castle in the north of the county.

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