prise

[ prahyz ]

verb (used with object)

, prised, pris·ing,

1. prize ³.

prise

/ praɪz /

verb

1. to force open by levering
2. to extract or obtain with difficulty

   they had to prise the news out of him

noun

1. rare.
   a tool involving leverage in its use or the leverage so employed

Word History and Origins

Origin of prise¹

C17: from Old French prise a taking, from prendre to take, from Latin prehendere; see prize ¹

Example Sentences

For Churchill, politics and literature were two sides of the same career,” Rose writes, “impossible to prise apart.

From The Daily Beast

Thy uncle with Sarah and Prise dined at Hampstead yesterday; the dear circle there as well as one could expect.

From Project Gutenberg

The prinsipal differense between a luxury and a necesaary iz, the prise.

From Project Gutenberg

If yu owe the Devil ennything pay him off at onse, and then discharge him, and dont hire him over agin at enny prise.

From Project Gutenberg

And the French soldiers tumbled headlong down from the poop with a wail of "Les Anglais font prise!"

From Project Gutenberg

Highly as he was supported, the wrath of the clergy prevailed; and a writ of prise de corps was issued for his apprehension.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• crowbar
• leverage