Meaning and usage of the word investiture in English

The word "investiture" originally derives from the Latin word "investitura," which means "endowment" or "provision." In medieval Europe, the term was used to refer to the act of endowing a secular or religious official with the necessary symbols of his or her authority, such as a staff, a ring, or a mitre. This ceremony was known as the "investiture of lands," "investiture of offices," or simply "investiture." During the Investiture Controversy, a conflict between the Holy Roman Emperor and the Papacy in the 11th and 12th centuries, the term came to mean the formal bestowal of ecclesiastical authority or office upon a bishop, abbot, or other church leader by the Pope or the emperor, depending on the party involved. Today, the term "investiture" is primarily used to refer to the conferral of academic or professional honors, such as the awarding of degrees, diplomas, or licenses.