Other forms: usurpations
Usurpation is the seizing of a position that is not yours by right. The usurpation of the throne, usurpation of power, a bloodless usurpation.
It carries the judgement inside it, since the word already says the claim was bad. It applies to offices and powers rather than to property, which would be theft.
1nounusurpationThe seizing of a position that is not yours by right.
“The chronicle treats the whole reign as a usurpation.”
usurpation is a seizing.
Latin usurpatio comes from usurpare, to seize for use, from usus, use, plus rapere, to snatch.
Latin
ūsurpātiō
Old French
usurpacion
Middle English
usurpacioun
English, today
usurpation
From Middle English usurpacioun, from Old French usurpacion, from Latin ūsurpātiō; equivalent to usurp + -ation.
Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA