Usurpations

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. The act of taking possession of something without right or authority, often involving the infringement of another's rights or privileges
2. A wrongful or illegal seizure of power or control, typically by force or deceit
3. The encroachment on someone else's rights or the taking over of a position, office, or property through unauthorized means

Etymology: "Usurpations" is the plural of "usurpation," so it is the form of a noun meaning the wrongful seizure of power, property or a position that belongs to someone else. The noun comes from Middle English "usurpacioun," which passed in from Old French "usurpacion," and before that from Latin "ūsurpātiō," itself built on the verb "usurpare" and the suffix "-ation." The Latin verb is "usurp," a word that grew out of a compound of "usus" (use) and "rapere" (to seize). In Latin, the idea behind the verb was taking something by using or possessing it, and the sense of illegitimately taking over came later. The plural form simply reflects multiple separate acts of such seizures.

Synonyms: seizures, overthrows

Antonyms: restorations, releases