Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “repossess” come from?

Repossess comes from Middle English re- combined with Old French possess, which derives from Latin possidēre, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European sed- meaning to sit or settle.

repossess (English): To reclaim ownership of property for which...

Definitions

  1. To reclaim ownership of property for which...

Ancestry of “repossess”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishpossessTo have; to have ownership of; To take control of...
2Middle Englishpossessen—
3Middle Frenchpossesserto possess
4Old Frenchpossesserto possess
5Latinpossessuspossessed; seized
6Latinpossideō—
7Latinpotisable, capable, possible
8Proto-Italicpotis—
9Proto-Indo-Europeanpótismaster, ruler; husband
10Proto-Indo-Europeanph₃tis—
11Proto-Indo-Europeanpeh₃-to drink

Words derived from “repossess”

  • repossessor
Every word from Proto-Indo-European peh₃- →