Dictionary

commandeer en · VERB

Pronunciation

• /kɒmənˈdɪə(ɹ)/
• (Southern-England) audio

Etymology

First attested in the 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.

Meanings

1. (transitive) To seize for military use.
2. (transitive) To force into military service.
3. (transitive) To take arbitrarily or by force.
4. (broadly, transitive) To take or use for some purpose (not necessarily arbitrarily or by force).
   • "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." 2007 February 5, Dan Shive, El Goonish Shive (webcomic), Comic for Monday, Feb 5, 2007:

Forms

Deriveds

commandeerer

Relateds

appropriate · call up

Translations (27)

it coscrivere (to force into military service) · fr réquisitionner (to seize for military use) · mk мобилизи́ра (to force into military service) · de requirieren (to seize for military use) · mk регрути́ра (to force into military service) · it arruolare (to force into military service) · es usurpar (to take arbitrarily or by force) · es reclutar (to force into military service) · mk реквири́ра (to seize for military use) · it soggiogare (to take arbitrarily or by force) · it depredare (to take arbitrarily or by force) · bg мобилизирам (to force into military service) · it razziare (to take arbitrarily or by force) · it requisire (to seize for military use) · bg секвестирам (to seize for military use) · fr enrôler de force (to force into military service) · es requisar (to seize for military use) · es arrebatar (to take arbitrarily or by force) · mk реквизи́ра (to seize for military use) · pt requisição administrativa (to seize for military use) · it sequestrare (to seize for military use) · nb rekvirere (to take arbitrarily or by force) · bg рекрутирам (to force into military service) · nb rekvirere (to seize for military use) · ca requisar (to seize for military use) · ru реквизировать (to seize for military use) · it reclutare (to force into military service)