invent

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”).

verb

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 discover.