/pɹaɪz/
OriginFrom the Middle English noun prise (“taking of something”), from Old French prise (“seizure; taking; capture”), past participle of prendre (“to take”). Doublet of prize.
- To force (open) with a lever; to pry.
“I think he must have been trying to prise open that box yonder when he was attacked.”
“Come, force the gates with crowbars, prise them apart!”
“Most people used pliers, scissors, rubber gloves and knives to try to prise open products.”
- To extract something that is difficult to obtain.
“prise information out of someone”
- obsoleteAn enterprise or adventure.
“In which I may record the memory Of my loves conquest, peerlesse beauties prise”
Formsprises(present, singular, third-person) · prising(participle, present) · prised(participle, past) · prised(past) · prize(alternative) · prises(plural)