[f. L. confiscāt- ppl. stem of confiscāre: see the earlier CONFISK, through French. Confiscate, as the direct representative of L. confiscātus, was used as a ppl. adj. before the verb was introduced, and afterwards still continued to be a form of the pa. pple. = confiscated: see prec.
As in other words of the same form, compensate, concentrate, contemplate, etc., the stress is now usually on the first syllable, but till c. 1864 the dictionaries had only confi·scate, Knowles (1835) alone giving co·nfiscate as an alternative. This was also the ordinary usage of the poets, though both forms occur in Shakespeare and in Byron.]
1. trans. To appropriate (private property) to the sovereign or the public treasury by way of penalty.
1533–96. [see prec.].
1552. Huloet, Confiscate or forfaite a mans goodes, Publico.
1603. Knolles, Hist. Turks (1638), 78. The Emperor Emanuel … did in one day confiscat al the goods of the Venetian merchants within his empire.
1682. Burnet, Rights Princes, i. 21. Which were upon that seized on and confiscated.
1790. Burke, Fr. Rev., 125. We shall never confiscate a shilling of that honourable and pious fund.
1861. Kent, Comm. Amer. Law (1873), I. iii. 63. The right to confiscate debts was admitted as a doctrine of national law.
† b. To take away by exercise of authority from the individual (what belongs to him). Obs.
1641. Milton, Reform., II. (1851), 51. By proscribing, and confiscating from us all the right we have to our owne bodies, goods and liberties.
† 2. To deprive (a person) of his property as forfeited to the State. Obs.
a. 1618. Raleigh, Prerog. Parl. (1628), 36. The forenamed Lords … were condemned and confiscate.
1618. Bolton, Florus, III. ix. 196. The motion, to confiscate that Prince, though … in league with them.
a. 1662. Heylin, Hist. Presbyt., ix. (1670), 331. He … breaking Prison, was confiscated, proclaimed Traytor.
† 3. To forfeit to the sovereign or state. Also fig. Obs.
1593. Nashe, Christ’s T. (1613), 102. By your swearing and forswearing in bargayning, you haue confiscated your soules long agoe.
1641. Cheke’s Hurt Sedit., Life C ij b. This he had not confiscate to the Queene.
4. loosely. To seize as if by authority; to take forcible possession of, to appropriate summarily.
1819. Byron, Juan, II. cxxvi. The cargoes he confiscated.
1865. Livingstone, Zambesi, vi. 148. He was declared a prisoner, and his cargo and ship confiscated.
1867. Smiles, Huguenots Eng., iii. (1880), 39. The King confiscated to himself the property of those who took refuge abroad.
Mod. colloq. The college authorities have confiscated every copy of the paper.
Hence Confiscating vbl. sb., and ppl. a.
1791. Percivall, Sp. Dict., Confiscacion, forfeiture, confiscating.
1796. Burke, Lett. Noble Ld., Wks. VIII. 39. The bad times of confiscating princes … or confiscating demagogues.
