usurp - Definitions from Dictionary.com

7 results for: usurp

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This

u·surp

Audio Help [yoo-surp, -zurp] Pronunciation Key

–verb (used with object)

1.	to seize and hold (a position, office, power, etc.) by force or without legal right: The pretender tried to usurp the throne.

2.	to use without authority or right; employ wrongfully: The magazine usurped copyrighted material.

–verb (used without object)

3.	to commit forcible or illegal seizure of an office, power, etc.; encroach.

[Origin: 1275–1325; ME < L ūsūrpāre to take possession through use, equiv. to ūsū (abl. of ūsus use (n.)) + -rp-, reduced form of -rip-, comb. form of rapere to seize + -āre inf. ending

]

—Related forms

u·surp·er, noun

u·surp·ing·ly, adverb

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
usurp

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American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

u·surp Audio Help   (yōō-sûrp', -zûrp') Pronunciation Key
v.   u·surped, u·surp·ing, u·surps

v.   tr.

To seize and hold (the power or rights of another, for example) by force or without legal authority. See Synonyms at appropriate.
To take over or occupy without right: usurp a neighbor's land.
To take the place of (another) without legal authority; supplant.

v. intr.
To seize another's place, authority, or possession wrongfully.

[Middle English usurpen, from Old French usurper, from Latin ūsūrpāre, to take into use, usurp; see reup- in Indo-European roots.]

u·surp'er n., u·surp'ing·ly adv.

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Online Etymology Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
usurp

c.1325, 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) + rapere "to seize" (see rapid).

WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This

usurp
verb
1.	seize and take control without authority and possibly with force; take as one's right or possession; "He assumed to himself the right to fill all positions in the town"; "he usurped my rights"; "She seized control of the throne after her husband died" [syn: assume]
2.	take the place of; "gloom had usurped mirth at the party after the news of the terrorist act broke"

Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
usurp [juˈzəːp] verb

to take (another person's power, position etc) without the right to do so
Example: The king's uncle tried to usurp the throne; I shall not allow him to usurp my authority.

Arabic:	يَغْتَصِب
Chinese (Simplified):	篡夺, 篡位
Chinese (Traditional):	篡奪, 篡位
Czech:	uchvátit; přisvojit si
Danish:	tilrane sig; bemægtige sig
Dutch:	usurperen
Estonian:	anastama
Finnish:	anastaa
French:	usurper
German:	an sich reißen
Greek:	σφετερίζομαι
Hungarian:	bitorol
Icelandic:	{{XB}}hrifsa völd

Italian:	usurpare
Japanese:	奪う
Latvian:	uzurpēt; sagrābt
Lithuanian:	užgrobti
Norwegian:	rane til seg, legge beslag på
Polish:	przywłaszczyć sobie
Portuguese (Portugal):	usurpar
Russian:	узурпировать
Slovak:	uchvátiť, zmocniť sa
Slovenian:	nasilno se polastiti
Spanish:	usurpar
Swedish:	tillskansa sig, lägga beslag på
Turkish:	zorla almak, gasp etmek

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

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 possession, by force, or without right; as, to usurp a throne; to usurp the prerogatives of the crown; to usurp power; to usurp the right of a patron is to oust or dispossess him.

Alack, thou dost usurp authority. --Shak.

Another revolution, to get rid of this illegitimate and usurped government, would of course be perfectly justifiable. --Burke.

Note: Usurp is applied to seizure and use of office, functions, powers, rights, etc.; it is not applied to common dispossession of private property.

Syn: To arrogate; assume; appropriate.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

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.

The parish churches on which the Presbyterians and fanatics had usurped. --Evelyn.

And now the Spirits of the Mind Are busy with poor Peter Bell; Upon the rights of visual sense Usurping, with a prevalence More terrible than magic spell. --Wordsworth.

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