About The Word Usurp

Bay Area Crosswords

Learn about the word Usurp to help solve your crossword puzzle. Discover Usurp definitions and meaning, origins, synonyms, related terms and more at the free Crossword Dictionary.

Usurp

Usurp Meaning & Definition
Usurp Definition And Meaning

What's The Definition Of Usurp?

[v] take the place of; "gloom had usurped mirth at the party after the news of the terorist act broke"
[v] take possession of without permission or take with force, as after a conquest or invasion; "the invaders seized the land and property of the inhabitants"; "The army seized the town"; "The militia captured the castle"
[v] 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"

Synonyms | Synonyms for Usurp: appropriate | arrogate | assume | capture | conquer | seize | take over

Related Terms | Find terms related to Usurp:

See Also | annex | carry | preoccupy | raid | replace | supersede | supervene upon | supplant | take

Usurp In Webster's Dictionary

\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.
\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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