Discommon

/dɪsˈkɑmən/ verb

Definition

To deprive of common rights or privileges; to remove from common use or shared ownership.

Etymology

From dis- + common (from Latin communis, 'shared'). In English law and land management, this means to strip away communal rights, historically used in the enclosure movement.

Kelly Says

In medieval England, 'discommoning' was the legal process of removing peasants' rights to shared land—it's a historically loaded word that perfectly describes how the commons were stolen, one field at a time, between the 1400s-1800s.

Related Words

Explore More Words

Get the Word Orb API

Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.