usurpation

[ yoo-ser-pey-shuhn, -zer- ]

/ ˌyu sərˈpeɪ ʃən, -zər- /

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See synonyms for: usurpation / usurpations on Thesaurus.com

noun

an act of usurping; wrongful or illegal encroachment, infringement, or seizure.

illegal seizure and occupation of a throne.

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“Was” is used for the indicative past tense of “to be,” and “were” is only used for the subjunctive past tense.

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Origin of usurpation

1350–1400; Middle English <Latin ūsūrpātiōn- (stem of ūsūrpātiō), equivalent to ūsūrpāt(us) (past participle of ūsūrpāre to usurp) + -iōn--ion

OTHER WORDS FROM usurpation

u·sur·pa·tive

[yoo-sur-puh-tiv, ‐zur‐], /yuˈsɜr pə tɪv, ‐ˈzɜr‐/, u·sur·pa·to·ry

[yoo-sur-puh-tawr-ee, ‐tohr-ee, ‐zur‐], /yuˈsɜr pəˌtɔr i, ‐ˌtoʊr i, ‐ˈzɜr‐/, adjective

Words nearby usurpation

Usumacinta, Usumbura, usurer, usurious, usurp, usurpation, usurper, usury, U.S.V., usw, usward

Example sentences from the Web for usurpation

Russians had no choice but face his final decision; his usurpation of political power is sickly humiliating.
To the Streets!|Anna Nemtsova|September 26, 2011|DAILY BEAST
All government action is not a usurpation of individual freedom—it's a matter of striking the right balance.
The GOP's War on Teddy Roosevelt|John Avlon|March 9, 2010|DAILY BEAST
Indignation nerved her spirit as she reflected upon the usurpation thus ostentatiously displayed.
Madame Roland, Makers of History|John S. C. Abbott
But she was quick to discriminate between usurpation, and legal authority.
A short history of Rhode Island|George Washington Greene

But no one has yet seen fit to bring such an action; and the reason is that there has been no usurpation of executive authority.
Proceedings of the Second National Conservation Congress|Various
But during those times of military usurpation, these passions were the same.
The History of England in Three Volumes, Vol.I., Part E.|David Hume
Rather than submit to the usurpation of the Guises, they preferred to fall with arms in their hands.
History of the Rise of the Huguenots|Henry Baird

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usurpation

noun

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Origin of usurpation

OTHER WORDS FROM usurpation

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Example sentences from the Web for usurpation

MEANINGS

WORD GAMES

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WORD OF THE DAY

usurpation

noun

QUIZZES

QUIZ YOURSELF ON "WAS" VS. "WERE"!

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Origin of usurpation

OTHER WORDS FROM usurpation

Words nearby usurpation

Words related to usurpation

Example sentences from the Web for usurpation