sequester
se·ques·ter / səˈkwestər/ • v. [tr.] 1. isolate or hide away (someone or something): Tiberius was sequestered on an island the artist sequestered himself in his studio for two years. ∎ isolate (a jury) from outside influences during a trial: the jurors had been sequestered since Monday. ∎ Chem. [intr.] form a chelate or other stable compound with (an ion, atom, or molecule) so that it is no longer available for reactions.2. take legal possession of (assets) until a debt has been paid or other claims have been met: the power of courts to sequester the assets of unions. ∎ take forcible possession of (something); confiscate: compensation for Jewish property sequestered by the Libyan regime. ∎ legally place (the property of a bankrupt) in the hands of a trustee for division among the creditors: [as adj.] (sequestered) a trustee in a sequestered estate. DERIVATIVES: se·ques·tra·ble / siˈkwestrəbəl/ adj.se·ques·tra·tor / ˈsēkwiˌstrātər; ˈsek-; siˈkwesˌtrātər/ n.
sequester
So sequestrate XVI. f. pp. stem of L. sequestrāre. sequestration XIV. — (O)F. or late L.