commandeer

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

IPA^(key): /kɒmənˈdɪə(ɹ)/
Audio (Southern England): (file)
Rhymes: -ɪə(ɹ)

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."