First Known Use: 15th century
Dictionary
dispossess
verb dis·pos·sess \ˌdis-pə-ˈzes also -ˈses\
: to take land, possessions, etc., from (someone)
Full Definition of DISPOSSESS
transitive verb
: to put out of possession or occupancy <dispossessed the nobles of their land>
— dis·pos·ses·sion \-ˈze-shən also -ˈse-\ noun
— dis·pos·ses·sor \-ˈze-sər also -ˈse-\ noun
See dispossess defined for English-language learners
See dispossess defined for kids
ADVERTISEMENT
Origin of DISPOSSESS
Middle French despossesser, from des- dis- + possesser to possess
Related to DISPOSSESS
- Synonyms
- divest, expropriate, oust
Rhymes with DISPOSSESS
ABS, acquiesce, baroness, bitter cress, CBS, coalesce, convalesce, crown princess, DES, decompress, deliquesce, derepress, due process, effervesce, effloresce, evanesce, full-court press, gentilesse, granny dress, in-process, inverness, Inverness, less and less, letterpress, luminesce, Lyonnesse, minidress, more or less, nonetheless, obsolesce, otherguess, overdress, pennycress, phosphoresce, politesse, prepossess, preprocess, recrudesce, repossess, reprocess, retrogress, second-guess, SOS, sweaterdress, underdress, watercress, window-dress, word process
Learn More About DISPOSSESS
Browse
Next Word in the Dictionary: dispossessedPrevious Word in the Dictionary: dispositorAll Words Near: dispossess
ADVERTISEMENT
Seen & Heard
What made you want to look up dispossess? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).