angary

A1N1G2A1R1Y4
/ˈæŋ.ɡə.ɹi/

noun

The right of one belligerent (government) in a conflict to seize, use or destroy the property of another belligerent or neutral state, or the private citizens thereof, provided compensation is paid.

Similar
right of angary
OriginFrench angarie ← Late Latin angaria ← Ancient Greek ἀγγαρεία →
Scrabble 10
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Meanings

nounangary (usually uncountable, plural angaries)

plural angaries

  1. uncountableusuallyThe right of one belligerent (government) in a conflict to seize, use or destroy the property of another belligerent or neutral state, or the private citizens thereof, provided compensation is paid.

    Synonyms: right of angary

Synonyms & antonyms

nounThe right of one belligerent (government) in a conflict to seize, use or destroy the property of another belligerent or neutral state, or the private citizens thereof, provided compensation is paid.

Similar
right of angary

Origin

  1. Akkadian𒂊𒄈𒌅“inscribed tablet; oracle of fate, ambiguous wording; contract, bound deal”
  2. Aramaic*𐡀𐡍‬𐡂𐡓‬𐡀
  3. Old Persian*𐎠𐎥𐎼𐎠“missive, letter”
  4. Ancient Greekἀγγαρεία“the office of a courier or messenger”
  5. Late Latinangaria“forced service”
  6. Frenchangarie
  7. Englishangary

From French angarie, from Late Latin angaria (“forced service”) from Ancient Greek ἀγγαρεία (angareía, “the office of a courier or messenger”), from ἄγγαρος (ángaros, “courier”), from Old Persian *𐎠𐎥𐎼𐎠 (*a-g-r-a /⁠*angarā⁠/, “missive, letter”), from Aramaic *𐡀𐡍‬𐡂𐡓‬𐡀 (*ʾn‬gr‬ʾ /⁠*ʾengarā⁠/), form of *𐡀𐡍‬𐡂𐡓‬𐡕𐡀 (*ʾn‬gr‬tʾ /⁠*ʾengartā⁠/), variant of 𐡀𐡂𐡓‬𐡕𐡀 (ʾgr‬tʾ /⁠ʾiggartā⁠/), 𐡀𐡍‬𐡂𐡓𐡕‬𐡀 (ʾn‬grt‬ʾ /⁠ʾengirtā⁠/, “missive, letter; contract”), from Akkadian 𒂊𒄈𒌅 (egirtu, “inscribed tablet; oracle of fate, ambiguous wording; contract, bound deal”), from 𒄃 (egēru, “to be difficult, to be twisted or locked together; to have a twisted tongue, to be unable to speak against an order”). See also Classical Syriac ܐܓܪܬܐ (ʾeggarṯā, “letter, document”).

More words from French, Late Latin, Ancient Greek

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Portuguese angaria
  • angariaright to seize property during war

Rhymes & wordplay

Anagrams

GranyaGrayan
Cite this entry
APA

angary. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/angary

MLA

“angary.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/angary. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “angary,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/angary.

Source: angary on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.