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
- To reclaim ownership of property for which...
Ancestry of “repossess”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | possess | To have; to have ownership of; To take control of... |
| 2 | Middle English | possessen | — |
| 3 | Middle French | possesser | to possess |
| 4 | Old French | possesser | to possess |
| 5 | Latin | possessus | possessed; seized |
| 6 | Latin | possideō | to have, hold, own, possess |
| 7 | Latin | potis | able, capable, possible |
| 8 | Proto-Italic | potis | master, in control of |
| 9 | Proto-Indo-European | pótis | master, ruler; husband |
| 10 | Proto-Indo-European | ph₃tis | — |
| 11 | Proto-Indo-European | peh₃- | to drink |