prise
UK[praɪz]US[praɪz]
v
To force something open or apart, especially with a lever.
v
To obtain something with difficulty from someone who is unwilling to give it.
Etymology
The word 'prise' entered English from Old French, carrying the core sense of 'taking hold of'. This French term originated from Latin 'prehendere', a verb meaning to seize or grasp, which is also the ancestor of English words like 'comprehend' and 'apprehend'. Over time in English, the meaning specialized to describe the act of using force or leverage to take hold of something, particularly to open it or extract it. The modern spelling 'prize' is a common variant, but 'prise' retains the original form, preserving its direct link to the concept of forceful acquisition or opening.
Analysis
The word 'prise' is a simplex form. It is a loanword from Old French 'prise', meaning 'a taking, grasp, hold', which itself derived from the past participle of 'prendre' (to take). Its ultimate origin is Latin 'prehendere' (to seize, grasp).
Examples
He used a crowbar to prise open the rusty lid.
It was difficult to prise the secret from her.
They managed to prise the fossil out of the rock.