investiture
UK: ɪnˈvɛstɪtʃə | US: ɪnˈvɛstɪtʃər
n. the formal ceremony of conferring authority or rank, often involving symbolic clothing or objects
n. the act of investing someone with a position, right, or property
n. (historical) the medieval practice of granting land or office in exchange for allegiance
investiture = in<upon> + vest<clothe> + iture<noun suffix>
- in (Latin in-, "upon, into") → denotes direction or action upon something.
- vest (Latin vestire, "to clothe") → historically linked to the ceremonial act of clothing as a symbol of authority.
- iture (Latin -itura, noun-forming suffix) → indicates the result or act of the verb.
Etymology Origin:
The word traces back to medieval Latin investitura, derived from investire ("to clothe, cover"). In feudal Europe, lords would literally "clothe" vassals with a garment or object (e.g., a ring or scepter) to signify the transfer of land or title. Over time, the term expanded to encompass any formal installation ceremony, retaining its core imagery of symbolic empowerment.
The king presided over the investiture of the new knights.
The investiture ceremony included the presentation of a ceremonial robe.
Critics questioned the timing of the prime minister’s investiture.
Medieval investitures often involved oaths of fealty.
The university holds an annual investiture for endowed professors.