- usurp
- usurp ► VERB 1) take (a position of power) illegally or by force. 2) take the place of (someone in power) illegally.DERIVATIVES usurpation noun usurper noun.ORIGIN Latin usurpare 'seize for use' .
English terms dictionary. 2015.
usurp
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Usurp — U*surp , v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Usurped}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Usurping}.] [L. usurpare, usurpatum, to make use of, enjoy, get possession of, usurp; the first part of usurpare is akin to usus use (see {Use}, n.): cf. F. usurper.] To seize, and hold in… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
usurp — /yu̇ sərp, zərp/ vb [Latin usurpare to take possession of without a strict legal claim, from usus use + rapere to seize] vt: to seize and hold (as office, place, or powers) in possession by force or without right the courts may not usurp the… … Law dictionary
usurp — usurp; usurp·a·ture; usurp·er; usurp·ing·ly; … English syllables
Usurp — U*surp , v. i. To commit forcible seizure of place, power, functions, or the like, without right; to commit unjust encroachments; to be, or act as, a usurper. [1913 Webster] The parish churches on which the Presbyterians and fanatics had usurped … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
usurp — (v.) early 14c., from O.Fr. usurper, from L. usurpare make use of, seize for use, in L.L. to assume unlawfully, from usus a use (see USE (Cf. use)) + rapere to seize (see RAPID (Cf. rapid)). Related: Usurped; usurping … Etymology dictionary
usurp — *arrogate, preempt, appropriate, confiscate Analogous words: seize, *take, grab, grasp Antonyms: abdicate … New Dictionary of Synonyms
usurp — [v] take over accroach, annex, appropriate, arrogate, assume, barge in*, butt in*, clap hands on*, commandeer, cut out, displace, elbow in*, get hands on*, grab, grab hold of, highjack*, infringe upon, lay hold of, muscle in*, preempt, seize,… … New thesaurus
usurp — [yo͞o sʉrp′, yo͞ozʉrp′] vt. [ME usurpen < MFr usurper < L usurpare < usus, a USE + rapere, to seize: see RAPE1] to take or assume (power, a position, property, rights, etc.) and hold in possession by force or without right vi. to… … English World dictionary
usurp — UK [juːˈzɜː(r)p] / US [juˈzɜrp] verb [transitive] Word forms usurp : present tense I/you/we/they usurp he/she/it usurps present participle usurping past tense usurped past participle usurped formal to take a job or position that belongs to… … English dictionary
usurp — verb Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo French usorper, from Latin usurpare to take possession of without legal claim, from usually (ablative of usus use) + rapere to seize more at rapid Date: 14th century transitive verb 1. a. to seize and… … New Collegiate Dictionary
