Definition

To take away someone's legal possession of property, especially in a wrongful manner.

Example

The court ruled that the landlord had no right to disseise the tenant from the property.

Tense Forms

Conversation

I heard that someone tried to disseise a family from their home.

Really? That sounds awful and so unfair.

Yeah, I can't believe people would go that far to take what's not theirs.

It makes me appreciate my own home even more, honestly.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Disseise → It originates from Old French 'desseisir' (meaning to dispossess) and is formed from 'dis-' (meaning apart) and 'saisir' (meaning to seize). The word 'disseise' means to take away someone's possession or rights.

Memory Tip

Think of 'taking away' ('dis-') someone's 'seizure' ('saisir') of property — that's what disseise means.

Visually Confused Words