'Usurp' definitions:
Definition of 'usurp'
From: WordNet
verb
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, usurp, seize, take over, arrogate]
verb
Take the place of; "gloom had usurped mirth at the party after the news of the terrorist act broke"
Definition of 'Usurp'
From: GCIDE
- 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. [1913 Webster]
- Alack, thou dost usurp authority. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
- Another revolution, to get rid of this illegitimate and usurped government, would of course be perfectly justifiable. --Burke. [1913 Webster]
- Note: 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]
- Syn: To arrogate; assume; appropriate. [1913 Webster]
Definition of 'Usurp'
From: GCIDE
- 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. --Evelyn. [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. --Wordsworth. [1913 Webster]
Synonyms of 'usurp'
From: Moby Thesaurus
- 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