devest

American

[dih-vest] / dɪˈvɛst /

verb (used with object)

Law. to divest.
Obsolete. to remove the clothes from; undress.

devest British

/ dɪˈvɛst /

verb

(tr) a rare variant spelling of divest

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of devest

1555–65; < Middle French desvester, Old French desvestir, equivalent to des- dis- ¹ + vestir to clothe < Latin vestīre; divest

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

"When ... a law is in its nature a contract ... a repeal of the law cannot devest" rights which have vested under it.

From The Theory of Social Revolutions by Adams, Brooks

And I perceive he is under an inundation of uncertain commers, which he cannot devest, except I had your leave to speake plain to him.

From Letters to Severall Persons of Honour by Donne, John

When then a law is in the nature of a contract, when absolute rights have vested under that contract, a repeal of the law can not devest those rights; ...

From The Spirit of American Government A Study Of The Constitution: Its Origin, Influence And Relation To Democracy by Smith, J. Allen (James Allen)

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023