usurp

• POS: Verb (usu participle)
• HYPHEN: u=surp

CIDE DICTIONARY

usurp, v. t. [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.  [1913 Webster]
" Usurp is applied to seizure and use of office, functions, powers, rights, etc.; it is not applied to common dispossession of private property."  [1913 Webster]
"Alack, thou dost usurp authority."  [1913 Webster]
"Another revolution, to get rid of this illegitimate and usurped government, would of course be perfectly justifiable."  [1913 Webster]

Syn. -- To arrogate; assume; appropriate.

usurp, 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."  [1913 Webster]
"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."  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

usurp, v.
1 tr. seize or assume (a throne or power etc.) wrongfully.
2 intr. (foll. by on, upon) encroach.

Derivative

usurpation n. usurper n.

Etymology

ME f. OF usurper f. L usurpare seize for use

THESAURUS

usurp

accroach, adopt, advance upon, appropriate, arrogate, assume, assume command, break bounds, colonize, commandeer, conquer, cut out, displace, encroach, enslave, go too far, hog, indent, infringe, intrude, invade, irrupt, jump a claim, know no bounds, make an inroad, make free with, make use of, monopolize, mount the throne, occupy, overrun, overstep, overstep the bounds, play God, preempt, preoccupy, prepossess, pretend to, requisition, seize, seize power, seize the throne, sit on, squat on, subjugate, take all of, take charge, take command, take it all, take over, take possession of, take the helm, take the lead, take up, transgress, trespass

ROGET THESAURUS

usurp

Severity

VB be severe, assume, usurp, arrogate, take liberties, domineer, bully, tyrannize, inflict, wreak, stretch a point, put on the screw, be hard upon, bear a heavy hand on, lay a heavy hand on, be down upon, come down upon, ill treat, deal hardly with, deal hard measure to, rule with a rod of iron, chastise with scorpions, dye with blood, oppress, override, trample under foot, tread under foot, tread upon, trample upon, tread down upon, trample down upon, crush under an iron heel, ride roughshod over, rivet the yoke, hold a tight hand, keep a tight hand, force down the throat, coerce, give no quarter.

Taking

VB take, catch, hook, nab, bag, sack, pocket, put into one's pocket, receive, accept, reap, crop, cull, pluck, gather, draw, appropriate, expropriate, impropriate, assume, possess oneself of, take possession of, commandeer, lay one's hands on, clap one's hands on, help oneself to, make free with, dip one's hands into, lay under contribution, intercept, scramble for, deprive of, take away, carry away, bear away, take off, carry off, bear off, adeem, abstract, hurry off with, run away with, abduct, steal, ravish, seize, pounce upon, spring upon, swoop to, swoop down upon, take by storm, take by assault, snatch, reave, snap up, nip up, whip up, catch up, kidnap, crimp, capture, lay violent hands on, get hold of, lay hold of, take hold of, catch hold of, lay fast hold of, take firm hold of, lay by the heels, take prisoner, fasten upon, grip, grapple, embrace, gripe, clasp, grab, clutch, collar, throttle, take by the throat, claw, clinch, clench, make sure of, catch at, jump at, make a grab at, snap at, snatch at, reach, make a long arm, stretch forth one's hand, take from, take away from, disseize, deduct, retrench, dispossess, ease one of, snatch from one's grasp, tear from, tear away from, wrench from, wrest from, wring from, extort, deprive of, bereave, disinherit, cut off with a shilling, oust, divest, levy, distrain, confiscate, sequester, sequestrate, accroach, usurp, despoil, strip, fleece, shear, displume, impoverish, eat out of house and home, drain, drain to the dregs, gut, dry, exhaust, swallow up, absorb, draw off, suck the blood of, suck like a leech, retake, resume, recover.

Undueness

VB be undue, not be due, infringe, encroach, trench on, exact, arrogate, arrogate to oneself, give an inch and take an ell, stretch a point, strain a point, usurp, violate, do violence to, disfranchise, disentitle, disqualify, invalidate, relax, misbehave, misbecome.