invest
- invest
\ \ [16] The etymological notion underlying invest is of ‘putting on clothes’. It comes via Old French investir from Latin investīre, a compound verb formed from the prefix in- and vestis ‘clothes’ (source of English vest, vestment, travesty, etc). It retained that original literal sense ‘clothe’ in English for several centuries, but now it survives only in its metaphorical descendant ‘instal in an office’ (as originally performed by clothing in special garments). Its financial sense, first recorded in English in the early 17th century, is thought to have originated in Italian investire from the idea of dressing one’s capital up in different clothes by putting it into a particular business, stock, etc.
\ \ Cf.⇒ TRAVESTY, VEST, VESTMENT
Word origins - 2ed.
J. Ayto.
2005.
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invest — in‧vest [ɪnˈvest] verb [intransitive, transitive] FINANCE 1. to buy shares, bonds, property etc in order to make a profit: • People are so pessimistic about the future that they won t invest at the moment. • The Singapore government is interested … Financial and business terms
Invest — In*vest , v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Invested}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Investing}.] [L. investire, investitum; pref. in in + vestire to clothe, fr. vestis clothing: cf. F. investir. See {Vest}.] [1913 Webster] 1. To put garments on; to clothe; to dress; to… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
invest — in·vest 1 /in vest/ vt [Medieval Latin investire, from Latin, to clothe, from in in + vestis garment] 1: to install in an office or position 2 a: to furnish with or formally grant power or authority b: to grant someone control or authority over:… … Law dictionary
invest — ► VERB 1) put money into financial schemes, shares, or property with the expectation of achieving a profit. 2) devote (time or energy) to an undertaking with the expectation of a worthwhile result. 3) (invest in) informal buy (something) whose… … English terms dictionary
invest as — [phrasal verb] invest (someone) as (something) formal : to give (someone) the power and authority of (a particular position or title) The group invested her as chairperson. • • • Main Entry: ↑invest … Useful english dictionary
Invest — In*vest , v. i. To make an investment; as, to invest in stocks; usually followed by in. [1913 Webster] … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
invest — [v1] contribute money to make money advance, back, bankroll, buy into, buy stock, devote, endow, endue, entrust, get into, go in for, imbue, infuse, lay out, lend, loan, pick up the tab*, plow back into*, plunge, provide, put in, put up dough*,… … New thesaurus
invest — [in vest′] vt. [L investire < in , in + vestire, to clothe < vestis, clothing: see VEST] 1. to clothe; array; adorn 2. a) to cover, surround, or envelop like, or as if with, a garment [fog invests the city] b) to endow with qualities,… … English World dictionary
invest in — index purchase Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton. 2006 … Law dictionary
invest — (v.) late 14c., to clothe in the official robes of an office, from L. investire to clothe in, cover, surround, from in in, into (see IN (Cf. in ) (2)) + vestire to dress, clothe (see WEAR (Cf. wear)). The meaning use money to produce profit first … Etymology dictionary
invest — 1 induct, install, inaugurate, initiate Analogous words: endue, endow (see DOWER): consecrate (see DEVOTE) Antonyms: divest, strip (of robes, insignia, power): unfrock 2 *besiege, beleaguer, blockade … New Dictionary of Synonyms
