I. ə̇nˈvest transitive verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Medieval Latin investire, from Latin, to clothe, cover, surround, from in- in- (II) + vestire to clothe, from vestis garment — more at wear
1.
a. : to array in the symbols of office or honor : install in an office or honor with customary ceremonies
was invested by Queen Elizabeth … in a private ceremony — Springfield (Massachusetts) Union
was invested with the George Medal, Britain's highest award for civilian heroism — Charlottetown (Canada) Guardian
b. : to furnish with or make a formal grant (as of power or authority) to : establish officially
by the Constitution of the United States, the president is invested with certain important political powers — John Marshall
c. : to put in possession or control of someone : vest
provincial life in Tsarist Russia … invested absolute authority in the head of the family — London Calling
2.
[Latin investire ]
: to envelop or cover completely : surround , coat
things are invested with mystery in the degree that their origins and causes are unknown — Edward Clodd
could invest a common murder case with the atmosphere of an Aeschylean drama — Van Wyck Brooks
specifically : to place (a pattern) in refractory material in the process of investment casting
bell-form bowl, invested with a rich turquois blue glaze — Parke-Bernet Galleries Catalog
— see cire perdue
3.
[Latin investire ]
a. : clothe , adorn
brought a light raincoat with which he now invested his ample person — John Buchan
went to the pains of investing the production richly, for sets and costumes are fabulous — Louise Mace
b. obsolete : to put on : don
cannot find one this girdle to invest — Edmund Spenser
4.
[Middle French investir, from Old Italian investire, from Latin, to surround]
: to surround with troops or ships so as to prevent escape or entry : lay siege to
Charleston was never besieged, not was any serious effort made … to invest it on the land side — O.L.Spaulding
5. : to endow with some quality or characteristic : infuse , enrich
talent for investing the commonplace with significance — Gerald Bullett
the realist … invests contemporary events with values that are eventually established as history — Bernard Smith
the tone of his … voice which he tried to invest with candor and modesty — Bernard De Voto
swept off his hat with a gesture that invested it with plumes — Edna Ferber
II. verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Italian investire, from Latin, to clothe, cover, surround
transitive verb
1.
a. : to commit (money) for a long period in order to earn a financial return
invested his savings in stocks, bonds, and real estate
b. : to place (money) with a view to minimizing risk rather than speculating for large gains at greater hazard
2. : to make use of with particular thought of future benefits or advantages
invested his savings in a year of study — Norman Foerster
I am avaricious of time and uneasy if I don't invest it well — O.W.Holmes †1935
intransitive verb
: to commit funds for future gain or purchase something of intrinsic value : make an investment
anyone who wants to know more before investing an write the editor — Monsanto Magazine
— often used with in
decided to invest in a first edition as a birthday gift for her husband
the burghers … would not invest in factories — William Petersen