Invest
/ɪnˈvɛst/noun
To commit money or resources to something with the expectation of future profit or benefit.
Did you know?In medieval Latin, the same root behind “invest” was used for ceremonially clothing someone in office, so the financial sense grew from the idea of ‘vesting’ value into a person or project.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*wes-
“to clothe, wear”
Latin
Latin
vestire
“to clothe, dress”
Medieval Latin
Latin
investire
“to clothe, cover, or surround; to install in office”
Old French
Old French
investir
“to endow, install, or besiege”
Middle English
English
investen
“to clothe, surround, or furnish”
Modern English
English
invest
“to commit money or resources to a venture”