Sequester
/sɪˈkwɛstər/
verbC1
Definition
To sequester means to keep something or someone apart from others, often by hiding, isolating, or protecting it. This can happen in law, nature, or everyday life. For example, a jury may be sequestered to avoid outside influence, or carbon can be sequestered to reduce pollution.
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See It in Action
To isolate or separate a person or group for safety or fairness
- •The judge decided to sequester the jury during the trial.
- •During the meeting, the witnesses were sequestered to avoid influencing each other.
- •The scientist sequestered the samples to keep them uncontaminated.
To capture and store something, especially carbon or chemicals, to keep it away from the environment
- •Trees sequester carbon dioxide from the air.
- •The factory uses technology to sequester harmful gases.
- •Scientists study ways to sequester carbon to fight climate change.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "sequester" like "hide," but more formal and with the idea of keeping something separated carefully
- ✓Picture a small island where a person or object is alone, away from everything else
- ✓It’s the feeling of being alone but protected, like when you close your door to study without distractions
- ✓Sounds like "seek" + "rest" → imagine seeking a quiet, resting place far away from noise and people
- ✓In movies, juries are taken to quiet hotels so they don’t hear outside news—this is sequestering people
- ✓NOT like "hide" (which can be secret and quick), "sequester" is more official and for safety or control
- ✓NOT like "lock up" (which means locking with force), sequester can mean gentle separation or protection
- ✓NOT like "ignore" (which means not paying attention), sequester means active separation or keeping apart
Try Other Words
- •Isolate: to keep apart from others (Use when emphasizing separation, especially for people or groups)
- •Confine: to keep within limits or a controlled space (Use when meaning to limit movement or access)
- •Seclude: to keep someone away from others for privacy (Use when focusing on privacy or quietness)
- •Hide: to put out of sight (Use in informal situations for simple hiding)
Unboxing
- •Prefix: "se-" meaning apart or away
- •Root: "quester" from Latin "quaerere" meaning to seek or ask
- •Etymology: From Latin "sequestrare," meaning to set aside or give to a trustee for safekeeping
- •Historical use: Originally used in law for holding property or people separately during a case
- •Modern usage: Used in law, science, and everyday language to mean separating or protecting something carefully
Reflect & Connect
•In what situations might it be important to sequester people or things instead of just hiding them?
•How does sequestering help in protecting the environment or ensuring fairness in legal cases?
Fill in the blanks
1.The judge ordered to sequester the jury ___ any outside contact during the trial.
2.Trees sequester carbon dioxide ___ the air to help reduce pollution.
3.Scientists try to sequester harmful chemicals ___ the environment to keep it safe.
4.The witnesses were sequestered ___ the courtroom to prevent them from talking to each other.
5.Sequester is different from hide because it usually involves ___ separation for safety or control.
6.When people are sequestered, they are often kept ___ from distractions or outside influence.
7.The company used special methods to sequester waste ___ from the community.