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The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 (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.
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Alack, thou dost usurp authority. --Shak.
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Another revolution, to get rid of this illegitimate and
usurped government, would of course be perfectly
justifiable. --Burke.
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Note: Usurp is applied to seizure and use of office,
functions, powers, rights, etc.; it is not applied to
common dispossession of private property.
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Syn: To arrogate; assume; appropriate.
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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.
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The parish churches on which the Presbyterians and
fanatics had usurped. --Evelyn.
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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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