Devest
/dɪˈvɛst/noun
To strip, deprive, or divest someone of property, authority, or possessions; an archaic or legal variant of divest.
Did you know?Devest belongs to the same ancient clothing family as vest and wear, preserving a metaphor in which removing garments became a legal act of removing rights or property.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*wes-
“To put on clothing or remain clothed”
Classical Latin
Latin
vestis
“A garment, clothing, or covering”
Classical Latin
Latin
dēvestīre
“To strip off clothing; to unclothe”
Old French
Old French
devestir
“To strip, dispossess, or deprive”
15th Century
English
devest
“To strip or deprive, especially of property or rights”
Modern English
English
devest
“To divest or remove possessions, authority, or legal interests”