To remove or strip away something, or to withdraw investment or involvement in something.
From Old French 'devester,' from Latin 'devestire' (de- away + vestire to clothe). Originally meant to undress or strip, later evolved to mean removing oneself from involvement or assets.
The shift from 'undressing' to 'removing financial stakes' is beautiful—when you divest from an oil company, you're symbolically taking off the clothes of that relationship, walking away naked of that connection.
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