De*vest" (?), v. t. [imp. & p.
p. Devested; p. pr. & vb. n.
Devesting.] [L. devestire to undress; de +
vestire to dress: cf. OF. devestir, F.
dévêtir. Cf. Divest.] 1.
To divest; to undress. Shak.
2. To take away, as an authority, title,
etc., to deprive; to alienate, as an estate.
☞ This word is now generally written divest, except in
the legal sense.
De*vest", v. i. (Law) To be
taken away, lost, or alienated, as a title or an estate.