invent

verb

Etymology: From Middle English inventen, borrowed 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. Compare advent, covent, event, prevent, etc. Displaced native Old English āþenċan (literally “to think out”).

1. To design a new process or mechanism.

   “After weeks of hard work, I invented a new way to alphabetize matchbooks.”

   “Accurſt be he that firſt inuented war”

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. To come upon; to find; to discover.

   “Far off he wonders, what them makes so glad, / If Bacchus merry fruit they did inuent [...].”