beschlagnahmen
Translation
to confiscate, to seize, to impound, to requisition
Examples
Die Polizei beschlagnahmte das Diebesgut.
The police confiscated the stolen goods.
Sein Auto wurde beschlagnahmt.
His car was impounded.
Grammar Patterns
((sth.)) from ((sb.)) to confiscate sth. from sb. The police confiscated the drugs from the dealer.
Similar Words
Synonyms: konfiszieren, einziehen; Antonyms: freigeben (to release)
Etymology
Composed of 'be-' (a prefix to create transitive verbs) + 'Schlag' (a hit or blow) + 'nahmen' (from 'nehmen', to take). It conveys the idea of taking something with official force.
Memory Tips
Picture a legal notice being struck ('Schlag') onto a property, which is then taken ('nehmen'). That's 'beschlagnahmen'.