invest

 
Pronunciation: /ɪnˈvɛst/

verb

[with object]
  • 1put (money) into financial schemes, shares, property, or a commercial venture with the expectation of achieving a profit: the company is to invest £12 m in its manufacturing site at Linlithglow [no object]: getting workers to invest in private pension funds
  • devote (one’s time, effort, or energy) to a particular undertaking with the expectation of a worthwhile result: we have invested a considerable amount of time in demonstrating the value of the system
  • [no object] (invest in) informal buy (a relatively expensive product) whose usefulness will repay the cost: I invested in an expensive moisturizer and tried to drink more water
  • 2 (invest someone/thing with) provide or endow someone or something with (a particular quality or attribute): the passage of time has invested the words with an unintended humour
  • formally confer a rank or office on (someone): he was invested as Head of State on 1 October 1936
  • (invest something in) confer a right or power on (someone or something): all executive powers were invested in the Secretary of State
  • 3 archaic clothe or cover with a garment: he stands before you invested in the full canonicals of his calling
  • 4 archaic surround (a place) in order to besiege or blockade it: Fort Pulaski was invested and captured

Derivatives

investable

adjective

investible

adjective

investor

noun

Origin:

mid 16th century (in the senses 'clothe', 'clothe with the insignia of a rank', and 'endow with authority'): from French investir or Latin investire, from in- 'into, upon' + vestire 'clothe' (from vestis 'clothing'). invest (sense 1) (early 17th century) is influenced by Italian investire

Spelling help

Remember that investor ends with -or.