Contents
English
Etymology
From Middle English inventen, from Old French inventer, from Latin inventus, perfect passive participle of inveniō (“‘come upon, meet with, find, discover’”), from in (“‘in, on’”) + veniō (“‘come’”); see venture. Cf. advent, covent, event, prevent, etc.
Pronunciation
Verb
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Infinitive to invent |
Third person singular invents |
Simple past invented |
Past participle invented |
Present participle inventing |
to invent (third-person singular simple present invents, present participle inventing, simple past and past participle invented)
- To design a new process or mechanism.
- After weeks of hard work, I invented a new way to alphabetize matchbooks.
- To create something fictional for a particular purpose.
- I knew I had to invent an excuse, and quickly.
- We need a name to put in this form, so let's just invent one.
- (obsolete) To come upon; to find; to find out; to discover.
Synonyms
Related terms
External links
- invent in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913
- invent in The Century Dictionary, The Century Co., New York, 1911
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