invent

What it means

1. To design a new process or mechanism.

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

   1 more example

   Accurſt be he that firſt inuented war

   c. 1587–1588 (date written), [Christopher Marlowe], Tamburlaine the Great. […] The First Part […], 2nd edition, part 1, London: […] [R. Robinson for] Richard Iones, […], published 1592, →OCLC; reprinted as Tamburlaine the Great (A Scolar Press Facsimile), Menston, Yorkshire; London: Scolar Press, 1973, →ISBN, Act II, scene iv

   Synonyms: conceive

2. To create something fictional for a particular purpose.

   I knew I had to invent an excuse, and quickly.

   1 more example

   We need a name to put in this form, so let's just invent one.

   Synonyms: make up, manufacture, spin

3. obsoleteTo come upon; to find; to discover.

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

   1590, Edmund Spenser, “Book I, Canto IV”, in The Faerie Queene. […], London: […] [John Wolfe] for William Ponsonbie, →OCLC

In a sentence

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

Where it comes from

1. Latininventus
2. Old Frenchinventer
3. Middle Englishinventen
4. Englishinvent

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”).