Word Study
confiscate
CIDE DICTIONARY
confiscate, a. [L. confiscatus, p. p. of confiscare to confiscate, prop., to lay up in a chest; con- + fiscus basket, purse, treasury. See Fiscal.].
Seized and appropriated by the government to the public use; forfeited. [1913 Webster]
"Lest that your goods too soon be confiscate." [1913 Webster]
confiscate, v. t.
To seize as forfeited to the public treasury; to appropriate to the public use. [1913 Webster]
"It was judged that he should be banished and his whole estate confiscated and seized." [1913 Webster]
OXFORD DICTIONARY
confiscate, v.tr.
1 take or seize by authority.
2 appropriate to the public treasury (by way of a penalty).
1 take or seize by authority.
2 appropriate to the public treasury (by way of a penalty).
Derivative
confiscable adj. confiscation n. confiscator n. confiscatory adj.
Etymology
L confiscare (as com-, fiscare f. fiscus treasury)
THESAURUS
confiscate
accroach, annex, appropriate, arrogate, attach, collectivize, commandeer, communalize, communize, distrain, expropriate, garnish, impound, impress, levy, nationalize, preempt, press, replevin, replevy, seize, sequester, sequestrate, socialize, take, take awayROGET THESAURUS
confiscate
Taking
VB take, catch, hook, nab, bag, sack, pocket, put into one's pocket, receive, accept, reap, crop, cull, pluck, gather, draw, appropriate, expropriate, impropriate, assume, possess oneself of, take possession of, commandeer, lay one's hands on, clap one's hands on, help oneself to, make free with, dip one's hands into, lay under contribution, intercept, scramble for, deprive of, take away, carry away, bear away, take off, carry off, bear off, adeem, abstract, hurry off with, run away with, abduct, steal, ravish, seize, pounce upon, spring upon, swoop to, swoop down upon, take by storm, take by assault, snatch, reave, snap up, nip up, whip up, catch up, kidnap, crimp, capture, lay violent hands on, get hold of, lay hold of, take hold of, catch hold of, lay fast hold of, take firm hold of, lay by the heels, take prisoner, fasten upon, grip, grapple, embrace, gripe, clasp, grab, clutch, collar, throttle, take by the throat, claw, clinch, clench, make sure of, catch at, jump at, make a grab at, snap at, snatch at, reach, make a long arm, stretch forth one's hand, take from, take away from, disseize, deduct, retrench, dispossess, ease one of, snatch from one's grasp, tear from, tear away from, wrench from, wrest from, wring from, extort, deprive of, bereave, disinherit, cut off with a shilling, oust, divest, levy, distrain, confiscate, sequester, sequestrate, accroach, usurp, despoil, strip, fleece, shear, displume, impoverish, eat out of house and home, drain, drain to the dregs, gut, dry, exhaust, swallow up, absorb, draw off, suck the blood of, suck like a leech, retake, resume, recover.Condemnation
VB condemn, convict, cast, bring home to, find guilty, damn, doom, sign the death warrant, sentence, pass sentence on, attaint, confiscate, proscribe, sequestrate, nonsuit, disapprove, accuse, stand condemned.Penalty
VB fine, mulct, amerce, sconce, confiscate, sequestrate, sequester, escheat, estreat, forfeit.For further exploring for "confiscate" in Webster Dictionary Online
