This week’s theme
Clothes (or lack of them)

This week’s words
defrock
divest
travesty
revet
investiture

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A.Word.A.Day

PRONUNCIATION:

(di/duh/dy-VEST)

MEANING:

verb tr.:
1. To remove, give up, or sell off.
2. To take away or deprive.
3. To strip of clothing, ornament, etc.

ETYMOLOGY:

From Old French desvestir (to undress), from Latin divestire, from di- (away) + vestire (to dress), from vestis (garment). Earliest documented use: 1616.

USAGE:

“In Texas, for example, the legislature is considering a bill that would require two state pension funds to divest from companies that do business with Sudan’s government. ... And the Texas legislation is not as bold as it could be. If the pension funds can show that divesting hurts their bottom line, they will be allowed to reinvest in the companies in question.”
Divestment from Sudan; The Economist (London, UK); May 12, 2007.

“She was staring at Podell as he unwrapped his muffler, then divested himself of his greatcoat.”
Barbara Metzger; Valentines; Ivy Books; 1995.

See more usage examples of divest in Vocabulary.com’s dictionary.

A THOUGHT FOR TODAY: