- divest
- 1560s, from M.Fr. devester "strip of possessions," from O.Fr. desvestir, from des- "away" + vestir "to clothe." The figurative sense of "strip of possessions" is earliest in English; reflexive sense of "to strip oneself of" is from c.1600. Economic sense (implied in divestment) is from 1955. Related: Divested; divesting.