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usurp

u·surp [ yoo súrp, yoozúrp ] (past and past participle u·surped, present participle u·surp·ing, 3rd person present singular u·surps)

transitive and intransitive verb

Definition:

seize something without right: to use something without the right to do so

[14th century. Via French< Latin usurpare "seize for use" <, perhaps, usus "use" (see use) + rapere "seize"]

u·sur·pa·tion [ yssər páysh'n, yzər páysh'n ] noun

u·surp·er noun

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