had Expropriaed 30 hectars of land

/ɪkˈsproʊpriˌeɪtɪd/

(adjective/past tense) Describes property that has been taken away from its original owner, usually by a government or public authority, for public use.

The government had expropriated 30 hectares of land to build the new highway.

The government had taken 30 hectares of private land to build the new public highway.

Etymology

This word comes from Latin ex- (out, away from) + proprius (one's own), then passed to Middle French exproprier before entering English in the 16th century. It originally meant 'to take away someone's property'.

Memory Aid

Break it into parts: ex- (take away) + propri- (property) + -ated (past action) = took away someone's property. The root propri sounds like 'property' to help you remember.

Collocations

expropriated landexpropriated propertyrecently expropriatedforcibly expropriated

Synonyms

appropriatedseizedconfiscatedcommandeered

Antonyms

returnedgiven backprivatized

Related Words

expropriationlandgovernmenteminent domainproperty