In medieval law, to wrongfully take away someone's land or property, especially to dispossess them of their rightful estate.
From Old French 'dessaisir' (to dispossess), combining 'des-' (away) and 'saisir' (to seize). This term emerged in Norman legal tradition after 1066 and became central to English common law.
This word captures one of the darkest aspects of medieval feudalism—powerful lords could literally kick you off your ancestral land with legal technicalities, which is why English law developed such elaborate protections against 'disseisins.'
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