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Webster 1913 Edition

Dispossess

Disˊpos-sess′

(?; see Possess)
,
Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Dispossessed
;
p. pr. & vb. n.
Dispossessing
.]
[Pref.
dis-
+
possess
: cf. F.
déposséder
.]
To put out of possession; to deprive of the actual occupancy of, particularly of land or real estate; to disseize; to eject; – usually followed by of before the thing taken away;
as, to
dispossess
a king of his crown
.
Usurp the land, and
dispossess
the swain.
Goldsmith.

Webster 1828 Edition

Dispossess

DISPOSSESS

,
Verb.
T.
[dis and possess.] To put out of possession, by any means; to deprive of the actual occupancy of a thing, particularly of land or real estate; to deseize.
Ye shall dispossess the inhabitants of the land, and dwell therein. Numbers 33.
Usually followed by of, before the thing taken away; as, to dispossess a king of his crown.

Definition 2024

dispossess

dispossess

English

Verb

dispossess ‎(third-person singular simple present dispossesses, present participle dispossessing, simple past and past participle dispossessed)

  1. To deprive someone of the possession of land, especially by evicting them.
  2. (sports) To take possession of the ball/puck etc. (from someone).
    • 2011 October 1, John Sinnott, “Aston Villa 2 - 0 Wigan”, in BBC Sport:
      It was Bannan who released Agbonlahor for his goal with a long-range curling pass after Stephen Warnock had dispossessed Mohamed Diame.

Related terms

Etymology

Middle English, from Middle French despossesser.

Pronunciation

  • (UK) IPA(key): /dɪspəˈzəs/

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