sequester
UK[sɪˈkwestə(r)]US[sɪˈkwestər]
v
To isolate or hide away; to take legal possession of assets until a debt is paid or a dispute is settled.
v
To set apart; to segregate or withdraw from circulation or use.
Morpheme Breakdown
se
quester
se
apart
quester
to seek, to ask
Etymology
The word 'sequester' entered English in the late 14th century from Anglo-French 'sequestrer', which itself came from Late Latin 'sequestrare', meaning 'to place in safekeeping, to give up for safekeeping'. This Latin verb was formed from 'sequester', a noun for a trustee or mediator, one who stands apart ('se-') to hold disputed property while seeking ('quaerere') a resolution. The core logic of the modern meanings—isolating, hiding away, or legally seizing—stems directly from this ancient concept of setting something apart from common access. The sense evolved from a neutral act of trusteeship to one of enforced separation or confiscation.
Analysis
Structure: se (apart) + quester (to seek, to ask)
'se-' is a Latin prefix meaning 'apart, away'. '-quester' is derived from the Latin verb 'quaerere', meaning 'to seek, to ask'.
Examples
The jury was sequestered to avoid media influence during the high-profile trial.
The court ordered the company's funds to be sequestered until the lawsuit was resolved.
Carbon capture technology aims to sequester harmful emissions underground.