Etymology

From aposento ‎(“home”).

Folk etymology suggests that the term's meaning shifted with when Napoleon Bonaparte invaded Portugal and the Portuguese nobles fled to Brazil, claiming for themselves a right to expel someone from their house and move in, subject only to the requiremet that they pay the expellee rent.

Pronunciation

• (Brazil) IPA^(key): /a.ˌpo.zẽ.ˌta.do.ˈɾi.a/, /a.ˌpo.zẽ.ˌta.do.ˈɾi.ɐ/