dispossess

American  

[dis-puh-zes] / ˌdɪs pəˈzɛs /

verb (used with object)

1. to put (a person) out of possession, especially of real property; oust.

2. to banish.

3. to abandon ownership of (a building), especially as a bad investment.

   Landlords have dispossessed many old tenement buildings.

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dispossess British  

/ ˌdɪspəˈzɛs /

verb

1. (tr) to take away possession of something, esp property; expel

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Related Words

See strip ¹.

Other Word Forms

• dispossession
  noun
• dispossessor
  noun
• dispossessory
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of dispossess

First recorded in 1425–75; dis- ¹ + possess; replacing Middle English disposseden, equivalent to dis- ¹ + posseden (from Old French posseder ), from Latin possidēre; possess

Explanation

When you take something away from someone, especially land or property, you dispossess them of it. Your parents might dispossess you of the tent you pitched in the yard to set up the grill for their upcoming cookout. At the heart of dispossess is the verb possess, which you may think of as meaning "to own," but which also means "to occupy" or "to hold as real estate." When people are deprived of their property or possessions, they are dispossessed. In fact, the verb dispossess is sometimes used in place of the more direct evict. If a homeowner misses too many mortgage payments, the bank may dispossess them, forcing them to move out.

Example Sentences

Dispossess, dis-poz-zes′, v.t. to put out of possession.—n.

From Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 1 of 4: A-D) by Various

Dispossess me of no might nor tragedy nor melody.

From A Hero and Some Other Folks by Quayle, William A. (William Alfred)

Dispossess proceedings do not come under the supervision of Harvey Trueman, but he has ever been observant.

From The Transgressors Story of a Great Sin by Adams, Francis A.

Related Words

• evict