expropriate
- to take possession of, especially for public use by the right of eminent domain, thus divesting the title of the private owner: The government expropriated the land for a recreation area.
- to dispossess (a person) of ownership: The revolutionary government expropriated the landowners from their estates.
- to take (something) from another's possession for one's own use: He expropriated my ideas for his own article.
Origin of expropriate
Examples from the Web for expropriation
Historical Examples
Now, what we fear with regard to Expropriation is exactly the contrary.
The Conquest of BreadPeter Kropotkin
The expropriation of peasants is in full swing in Austria also.
Woman and SocialismAugust Bebel
A new system of expropriation has been adopted since 1910 by the City.
Montreal 1535-1914, Volume II (of 2)William Henry Atherton
They will destroy the State, and will urge on the people to the expropriation of the rich.
Anarchism and SocialismGeorge Plechanoff
Expropriation can only be undertaken in the common interest and in virtue of a law.
The New GermanyGeorge Young
expropriate
- to deprive (an owner) of (property), esp by taking it for public useSee also eminent domain
Word Origin
Word Origin and History for expropriation
n.
mid-15c., "renunciation of worldly goods," from Medieval Latin expropriationem (nominative expropriatio), noun of action from Late Latin expropriare "deprive of property," from ex- "away from" (see ex-) + propriare "to appropriate" (see appropriate). Sense of "a taking of someone's property," especially for public use, is from 1848; as Weekley puts it, "Current sense of organized theft appears to have arisen among Ger. socialists."
expropriate
v.
1610s, back-formation from expropriation, or from earlier adjective (mid-15c.), or from Medieval Latin expropriatus, past participle of expropriare "to deprive of one's own." Related: Expropriated; expropriating.
expropriation
The taking over of private property by a government, often without fair compensation but usually with a legal assertion that the government has a right to do so.