Synonyms Examples Word Origin
See more synonyms for divest on Thesaurus.com to strip of clothing, ornament, etc.: The wind divested the trees of their leaves. to strip or deprive (someone or something), especially of property or rights; dispossess. to rid of or free from: He divested himself of all responsibility for the decision. Law to take away or alienate (property, rights, etc.). Commerce to sell off: to divest holdings. to rid of through sale: The corporation divested itself of its subsidiaries. Show More
Origin of divest 1595–1605; <
Medieval Latin dīvestīre, equivalent to
dī- di-2 +
vestīre to dress,
vest Related forms un·di·vest·ed , adjective Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Related Words for divest deprive ,
rob ,
dismantle ,
bankrupt ,
unload ,
bereave ,
dump ,
undress ,
bare ,
strip ,
ditch ,
milk ,
disrobe ,
despoil ,
plunder ,
spoil ,
bleed ,
disinherit ,
oust ,
seize Examples from the Web for divest Contemporary Examples of divest 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.
And a movement to boycott, divest from and sanction Israel is gaining force around the world.
Historical Examples of divest No, no, he could not divest himself of that gown which clung so tightly to his flesh.
It is difficult to divest the mind of facts with which it is most familiar.
He was in a hurry to divest himself of everything recalling the peasant.
Our proclivity to details cannot quite degrade our life and divest it of poetry.
She will have to divest herself of all her "Kilgobbinries" ere I present her to my friends in town.'
British Dictionary definitions for divest verb (tr usually foll by of ) to strip (of clothes) to divest oneself of one's coat to deprive or dispossess property law to take away an estate or interest in property vested (in a person) Show More
Derived Forms divestible , adjective divestiture (daɪˈvɛstɪtʃə ), divesture (daɪˈvɛstʃə ) or divestment , noun Word Origin for divest C17: changed from earlier devest
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
Word Origin and History for divest v. 1560s, devest (modern spelling is c.1600), from Middle French devester "strip of possessions," from Old French desvestir , from des- "away" (see dis- ) + vestir "to clothe" (see vest (v.)).
The figurative sense of "strip of possessions" is earliest in English; reflexive sense of "to strip oneself of" is from c.1600. Economic sense (implied in divestment ) is from 1955. Related: Divested ; divesting .
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
