sequestrate

 
Pronunciation: /ˈsiːkwəstreɪt, ˈsiːkwɛs-/

verb

[with object]
  • take legal possession of (assets) until a debt has been paid or other claims have been met: the power of courts to sequestrate the assets of unions
  • take forcible possession of (something); confiscate: in November 1956 the property was sequestrated by the authorities
  • legally place (the property of a bankrupt) in the hands of a trustee for division among the creditors: (as adjective sequestrated) a trustee in a sequestrated estate
  • declare (someone) bankrupt: two more poll tax rebels were sequestrated

Derivatives

sequestrable

adjective

sequestrator

Pronunciation: /ˈsiːkwɪˌstreɪtə/
noun

Origin:

late Middle English (in the sense 'separate from general access'): from late Latin sequestrat- 'given up for safekeeping', from the verb sequestrare (see sequester)