'divest' originates from Latin, specifically the word 'divestire,' where 'di-' meant 'away' and 'vestire' meant 'to clothe.'

'divestire' transformed into the Old French word 'desvestir,' and eventually became the modern English word 'divest' through Middle English.

Initially, it meant 'to remove clothing,' but over time it evolved into its current meaning of 'to strip away or remove something.'