'dispossess' originates from the Old French word 'despossesser', where 'des-' meant 'away' and 'possesser' meant 'to possess'.

'despossesser' transformed into the Middle English word 'disposessen', and eventually became the modern English word 'dispossess'.

Initially, it meant 'to deprive someone of possession', and this meaning has largely remained the same in modern usage.