Link Centre Dictionary

usurp

UK/juːˈzɜːp/ US/juˈsɝp/ rare obsolete

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”
Synonyms
2.

take the place of

  • “gloom had usurped mirth at the party after the news of the terrorist act broke”

Origin

From Middle English usurpen, from Old French usurper, from Latin ūsūrpō.

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WordNet 2.1 (Princeton University). Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). CMU Pronouncing Dictionary. WordNet 2.1 Copyright Princeton University. All rights reserved. Wiktionary content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike Licence.