Hello, you have come here looking for the meaning of the word
commandeer. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
commandeer, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
commandeer in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word
commandeer you have here. The definition of the word
commandeer will help you to be more precise and correct when speaking or writing your texts. Knowing the definition of
commandeer, as well as those of other words, enriches your vocabulary and provides you with more and better linguistic resources.
English
Etymology
Late 19th century. From Dutch commanderen (“to command”), partially through its descendant, Afrikaans kommandeer (“to command”). Ultimately from French commander, from Old French comander, from Latin commendare. Doublet of command.
Pronunciation
Verb
commandeer (third-person singular simple present commandeers, present participle commandeering, simple past and past participle commandeered)
- (transitive) To seize for military use.
- (transitive) To force into military service.
- (transitive) To take arbitrarily or by force.
- (transitive, by extension) To take or use for some purpose (not necessarily arbitrarily or by force).
2007 February 5, Dan Shive, El Goonish Shive (webcomic), Comic for Monday, Feb 5, 2007:"We're stuck taking the bus to school tomorrow, aren't we?" "...Yeah. Moperville South doesn't give bus service out here, so Ellen's commandeering my car."
Derived terms
Translations
to seize for military use
to force into military service
to take arbitrarily or by force
See also