invent

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Contents

[edit] English

[edit] Etymology

< Middle English inventen < Old French inventer < Latin inventus, pp. of invenire (to come upon, meet with, find, discover) < in (in, on) + venire (to come); see venture. Cf. advent, covent, event, prevent, etc.

[edit] Pronunciation

[edit] Verb

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)

  1. To design a new process or mechanism.
    After weeks of hard work, I invented a new way to alphabetize matchbooks.
  2. 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.
  3. (obsolete) To come upon; to find; to find out; to discover.

[edit] Synonyms

[edit] Related terms

[edit] Translations

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[edit] External links