CONFISCATE

I. adjective Etymology: Latin confiscatus, past participle of confiscare to ~, from com- + fiscus treasury Date: circa 1533 appropriated by the government ; forfeited, deprived of property by confiscation, II. transitive verb (-cated; -cating) Date: 1552 to seize as forfeited to the public treasury, to seize by or as if by authority, confiscation noun confiscator noun confiscatory adjective