Liberal Dictionary English Dictionary
verb (used with object)
- 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.
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)
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.