devest

American

[dih-vest] / dɪˈvɛst /

verb (used with object)

Law. to divest.
Obsolete. to remove the clothes from; undress.

devest British

/ dɪˈvɛst /

verb

(tr) a rare variant spelling of divest

"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

Etymology

Origin of devest

1555–65; < Middle French desvester, Old French desvestir, equivalent to des- dis- ¹ + vestir to clothe < Latin vestīre; see divest

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

And I perceive he is under an inundation of uncertain commers, which he cannot devest, except I had your leave to speake plain to him.

From Letters to Severall Persons of Honour by Donne, John

When then a law is in the nature of a contract, when absolute rights have vested under that contract, a repeal of the law can not devest those rights; ...

From The Spirit of American Government A Study Of The Constitution: Its Origin, Influence And Relation To Democracy by Smith, J. Allen (James Allen)

"When ... a law is in its nature a contract ... a repeal of the law cannot devest" rights which have vested under it.

From The Theory of Social Revolutions by Adams, Brooks

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023