commandeer

views updated May 29 2018

com·man·deer / ˌkämənˈdi(ə)r/ • v. [tr.] officially take possession or control of (something), esp. for military purposes. ∎  take possession of (something) without authority: he hoisted himself onto a table, commandeering it as a speaker's platform. ∎  enlist (someone) to help in a task, typically against the person's will.

The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English

commandeer

views updated May 18 2018

commandeer (orig. S. Africa) seize for military use. XIX. — Afrikaans kommanderen — F. commander (see prec.).

The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology T. F. HOAD

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