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Divest vs Defeat - What's the difference?

divest | defeat |

In lang=en terms the difference between divest and defeat

is that divest is to sell off or be rid of through sale, especially of a subsidiary while defeat is to reduce, to nothing, the strength of.

As verbs the difference between divest and defeat

is that divest is (archaic) to undress, disrobe while defeat is to overcome in battle or contest.

As a noun defeat is

the act of defeating or being defeated.

divest

English

Verb

(en verb)
  • (archaic) To undress, disrobe.
  • * 1897 , Henry James, What Maisie Knew :
    • Having divested the child he kissed her gently and gave her a little pat to make her stand off.
  • To strip, deprive, or dispossess (someone) (of) something (such as a right, passion, privilege, or prejudice).
    • You shall never divest me of my right to free speech.
    When I wake up, I make a point to divest myself of all my prejudices, ready to start the day.
  • To sell off or be rid of through sale, especially of a subsidiary
    • In 2011 the company divested an 81% majority stake in its Chinese subsidiary.

    Related terms

    * divestiture

    defeat

    English

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To overcome in battle or contest.
    • Wellington defeated Napoleon at Waterloo.
  • To reduce, to nothing, the strength of.
  • * Tillotson
    • He finds himself naturally to dread a superior Being that can defeat all his designs, and disappoint all his hopes.
  • * A. W. Ward
    • In one instance he defeated his own purpose.
  • To nullify
  • * Hallam
    • The escheators defeated the right heir of his succession.

    Synonyms

    (To overcome in contest) * beat * conquer * overthrow * rout * vanquish

    Related terms

    * defeasance * defeasible * defeater * defeatism * defeatist * defeature

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • The act of defeating or being defeated.
  • * {{quote-news
    • , year=2012 , date=May 13 , author=Alistair Magowan , title=Sunderland 0-1 Man Utd , work=BBC Sport citation , page= , passage=Two defeats in five games coming into this contest, and a draw with Everton, ultimately cost Sir Alex Ferguson's side in what became the most extraordinary finale to the league championship since Arsenal beat Liverpool at Anfield in 1989.}}