ex·pro·pri·ate [ ik sprṓpree àyt ](past and past participleex·pro·pri·at·ed, present participleex·pro·pri·at·ing, 3rd person present singularex·pro·pri·ates)
transitive verb
Definition:
take away something belonging to somebody: to take property or money from somebody, either legally for the public good or illegally by theft or fraud
[Late 16th century. < medieval Latin expropriat-, past participle of expropriare "take away and make your own" < Latin proprius "your own"]