The process by which a person acquires a fixed right to present or future benefits. Once rights are vested, they cannot be taken away arbitrarily and become the property of the holder.
From Latin 'vestire' meaning 'to clothe' or 'to dress,' through Old French 'vestir.' The legal metaphor suggests that rights 'clothe' a person, becoming part of them and not easily removed, like garments that belong to the wearer.
Vesting is like legal superglue—once your rights vest, they stick to you permanently and can't be peeled away, which is why employers use vesting schedules to keep employees around long enough for their benefits to become unshakeable!
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