repoˈssess, v.
(riː-)
[re- 5 a: cf. prec.]
1. trans. To regain or recover possession of (a place, etc.); to reoccupy. Also spec., to regain possession of or seize (goods being bought by hire-purchase) when a purchaser defaults on his payments.
| 1494 Fabyan Chron. vi. clxiv. 158 After whiche peace concludyd,..the Kynge repossessyd y⊇ sayd cytie. 1555 W. Watreman Fardle Facions Pref. 15 Desirous to repossess that, that constrainedly he forsooke. a 1586 Sidney Arcadia (1622) 413 The resolution to dye had repossessed his place in her minde. 1634 Ford Perk. Warbeck i. i, Nor doth the house of York decay in honours, Though Lancaster doth repossess his right. c 1670 Hobbes Dial. Com. Laws (1681) 133 He was received again into Grace, but dyed before he could repossess his benefice. 1742 Young Nt. Th. ix. 101 Earth repossesses Part of what she gave. 1782 W. F. Martyn Geog. Mag. I. 34 They affirm, that as soon as the body is deposited in the grave, it is repossessed by the soul. a 1821 Keats Hyperion i. 123 Fierce to repossess A heaven he lost erewhile. 1964 Reading Teacher Dec. 210/2 One might think..of a reading program that would enable the children to investigate more widely on their own the worlds of Robin Hood, the cowboys, the spacemen..when the television is being repaired or repossessed. 1969 Rolling Stone 28 June 28/2 The starting point was having their car repossessed in Nashville ten years ago. 1972 New Society 12 Oct. 98/3 The record company repossessed the amplifiers and so Bolan, of necessity, switched back to acoustic guitar. 1977 Field 13 Jan. 40/1 These committees..are to consider cases where a farmer needs to repossess a cottage for an incoming employee. |
2. Sc. To restore (one) † to, replace or reinstate in, possession of something. † Also without const.
| 1572–3 Reg. Privy Council Scot. II. 195 All personis..dispossest of houssis..salbe presentlie repossest to thair houssis. 1574 Ibid. 409 To entir and reposses Patrik Bellenden..in all and sindry [lands]. 1585 Ibid. IV. 34 He sall reposses Adam..to the teindis. a 1649 Drummond of Hawthornden Hist. Jas. IV, Wks. (1711) 67 Kings should repossess kings wrongfully put from their own. 1814 Scott Ld. of Isles iii. ix, They proffer'd aid..To repossess him in his right. 1827 ― Napoleon xlii, His son should repossess him in the crown. |
3. a. To put (one) in possession of something again.
| 1591 Acts Privy Council (1900) XXI. 126 [To] see the supplicant repossessed of his said messuage, goodes, writings, [etc.] 1622 Donne Serm. 15 Sept. 12 They did scarce know their own title, and yet God repossessed them of it, reinuested them in it. 1660 N. Ingelo Bentiv. & Ur. ii. (1682) 166 We will endeavour to repossess his Son of his Kingdom. 1728 Kennett Register 323 At length the doctor gets himself re-possessed of his living. |
b. refl. To regain possession of something.
| 1670 Milton Hist. Eng. Wks. 1851 V. 39 The same Wood, where he had defeated the Britains; who..had now repossess'd themselvs of that place. 1748 Anson's Voy. i. v. 48 The Portuguese..soon repossessed themselves of the places the Dutch had taken. 1795 Belsham Mem. Geo. III, II. 242 Washington..re-possessed himself of his former strong position. 1861 Goschen For. Exch. 127 When..the Hamburg banker wishes to repossess himself of his money. |
† 4. To invest again with possession of something. Obs.
| 1601 J. Wheeler Treat. Comm. 50 To repossesse the Hanses with their old antiquated, and obsolete Priuiledges. 1607 Hieron Wks. II. 261 It is Thou only, who art able to repossesse mee with this iewell. |
Hence repoˈssessing vbl. n.
| 1633 T. Stafford Pac. Hib. i. xii. (1821) 140 He would become an humble Suiter to the Lord Deputie (in his behalfe) for the repossessing thereof. |