Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Investiture \In*ves"ti*ture\ (?; 135), n. [LL. investitura: cf.
   F. investiture.]
   1. The act or ceremony of investing, or the of being
      invested, as with an office; a giving possession; also,
      the right of so investing.

            He had refused to yield up to the pope the
            investiture of bishops.               --Sir W.
                                                  Raleigh.

   2. (Feudal Law) Livery of seizin.

            The grant of land or a feud was perfected by the
            ceremony o? corporal investiture, or open delivery
            of possession.                        --Blackstone.

   3. That with which anyone is invested or clothed; investment;
      clothing; covering.

            While we yet have on Our gross investiture of mortal
            weeds.                                --Trench.

Source : WordNet®

investiture
     n 1: the ceremony of installing a new monarch [syn: {coronation},
           {enthronement}, {enthronization}, {enthronisation}]
     2: the ceremonial act of clothing someone in the insignia of an
        office; the formal promotion of a person to an office or
        rank [syn: {investment}]