Standard Lemma guide

purpresture

noun · 1 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

noun

Meaning 1

The unlawful personal appropriation of public lands; wrongful encroachment on, or enclosure of properties belonging to the public (e.g. highways, sidewalks, forests, harbors).

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, historical, uncountable

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

From 1150–1200, Middle English purpresture, from Anglo-Norman purpresture; alteration of Old French porpresure (“enclosure, occupied space”), from porprendre (“to seize, occupy, enclose”), from por- (“for”) + prendre (“to take”); from Latin prehendere.