To take possession of something for one's own use; to take or seize.
From Old French 'aprendre,' from Latin 'ad' (to) + 'prendere' (to take or seize). An obsolete form related to 'apprehend' and early 'appropriate.'
This archaic word is the ancestor of 'appropriate'—you can see how 'appropre' (to seize) evolved into 'appropriate' (to take rightfully) and then 'appropriate' (suitable/fitting)!
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