Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “confiscate” come from?

Confiscate comes from Latin confiscāre, meaning to seize property for the state treasury.

confiscate (English): To use one's authority to lay claim to and...

Definitions

  1. To use one's authority to lay claim to and...

Ancestry of “confiscate”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Latinconfiscatusconfiscated
2LatinconfiscoI seize for the public treasury; I confiscate
3Latincōn-—
4Latincumwith, along with; at; -fold
5Old LatincomAlternative form of cum
6Proto-Italickomwith, along, at
7Proto-Indo-Europeanḱómbeside, near, by, with
8Proto-Indo-EuropeanḱeDeictic particle, here; Post-positional...
9Middle Englishkyt—
10Germankitt—
11Old High Germankuti—
12Proto-West Germanickwidugum, resin
13Proto-Germanickweduzresin
14Proto-Indo-Europeangʷet-resin, gum; to say, speak
15Proto-Indo-Europeangū-to bend; curve; arch; vault; to bow, bend, arch,...

Words derived from “confiscate”

  • confiscator
  • confiscatable
Every word from Proto-Indo-European gū- →