Copyright © Philip M. Parker, INSEAD. Terms of Use.
Definition: Usurp |
UsurpVerb1. Take control of; take as one's right or possession; "He assumed to himself the right to fill all positions in the town"; "he usurped my rights"; "She seized control of the throne after her husband died". Source: WordNet 1.7.1 Copyright © 2001 by Princeton University. All rights reserved. |
Date "usurp" was first used in popular English literature: sometime before 1010. (references) |
Note: Usurp \U*surp"\, transitive verb. [imperfect & past participle. Usurped; Usurping.]. (Websters 1913) |
Synonyms: UsurpSynonyms: arrogate (v), assume (v), seize (v), take over (v). (additional references) |
| Context | Synonyms within Context (source: adapted from Roget's Thesaurus). |
Laxity | Go beyond the length of one's tether; have one's swing, have one's fling; act without instructions, act without authority, act outside of one's authority; act on one's own responsibility, usurp authority. |
Severity | Assume, usurp, arrogate, take liberties; domineer, bully; tyrannize, inflict, wreak, stretch a point, put on the screw; be hard upon; bear a heavy hand on, lay a heavy hand on; be down upon, come down upon; ill treat; deal hardly with, deal hard measure to; rule with a rod of iron, chastise with scorpions; dye with blood; oppress, override; trample under foot; tread under foot, tread upon, trample upon, tread down upon, trample down upon; crush under an iron heel, ride roughshod over; rivet the yoke; hold a tight hand, keep a tight hand; force down the throat; coerce; give no quarter; (pitiless) a. |
Taking | Oust; (eject); divest; levy, distrain, confiscate; sequester, sequestrate; accroach; usurp; despoil, strip, fleece, shear, displume, impoverish, eat out of house and home; drain, drain to the dregs; gut, dry, exhaust, swallow up; absorb; (suck in); draw off; suck the blood of, suck like a leech. |
Undueness | Infringe, encroach, trench on, exact; arrogate, arrogate to oneself; give an inch and take an ell; stretch a point, strain a point; usurp, violate, do violence to. |
| Source: adapted from Roget's Thesaurus. | |
Crosswords: Usurp |
| English words defined with "usurp": Accroach ♦ battle of Cunaxa ♦ Cunaxa ♦ Usurping. (references) |
| Specialty definitions using "usurp": Eye ♦ Gold ♦ Minister, Muff ♦ Railroad ♦ Snakes ♦ Usurper. (references) |
| Author | Date | Quotation |
John Locke | 1690 | Every one is at the disposure of his own will, when those who had, by the delegation of the society, the declaring of the public will, are excluded from it, and others usurp the place, who have no such authority or delegation. (Second Treatise of Government) |
Source: compiled by the editor from various references. | ||
| Subject | Topic | Quote |
Economic History | Latvia | In January 1991, Soviet political and military forces tried unsuccessfully to overthrow the legitimate Latvian authorities by occupying the central publishing house in Riga and establishing a "Committee of National Salvation" to usurp governmental functions. (references) |
Indigenous People | India | Moreover, persons from other backgrounds often usurp places reserved for members of tribes and lower castes in national educational institutions. (references) |
Source: compiled by the editor from ICON Group International, Inc.; see credits. | ||
| Speaker | Term | Phrase(s) |
George Washington | 1789-1797 | Real patriots who may resist the intrigues of the favorite are liable to become suspected and odious, while its tools and dupes usurp the applause and confidence of the people to surrender their interests. |
Source: compiled by the editor from various references. | ||
| "Usurp" is generally used as a lexical verb (infinitive) -- approximately 86.67% of the time. "Usurp" is used about 60 times out of a sample of 100 million words spoken or written in English. Its rank is based on over 700,000 words used in the English language. Some parts-of-speech are not covered due to the samples used by the British National Corpus. (note: percents less than one-hundredth of one percent have been omitted) |
| Parts of Speech | Percent | Usage per 100 Million Words | Rank in English |
| Lexical Verb (infinitive) | 86.67% | 52 | 47,145 |
| Lexical Verb (base form) | 11.67% | 7 | 133,076 |
| Noun (singular) | 1.67% | 1 | 339,140 |
| Total | 100.00% | 60 | N/A |
Source: compiled by the editor from several corpora; see credits.
Expressions using "usurp": usurp authority ♦ usurp upon smb.'s rights. Additional references. | |
| Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits. |
| The following statistics estimate the number of searches per day across the major English-language search engines as identified by various trade publications. Hyperlinks lead to commercial use of the expression at Amazon.com. |
| Expression | Frequency per Day |
synapse usurp | 4 |
usurp | 4 |
| Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits. | |
| Language | Translations for "usurp"; alternative meanings/domain in parentheses. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Albanian | uzurpoj, pushtoj pa të drejta. (various references) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Arabic | إغتصب سلطة أو عرشة. (various references) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Chinese | 霸 (feudal chief, hegemon, lord, master, rhenium, rule by force, tyrant), 牟 (barley, to moo), 僭 , " (without authority), 强 (usurped, Usurping). (various references) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Czech | uzurpovat, uchvátit (carry away, catch up, electrify, enthral, enthrall, fascinate, grip, ravish), zmocnit se (lay hold, rush, take hold of, take possession of), přisvojit si (appropriate), násilím uchvátit. (various references) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Danish | besætte (overpower). (various references) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Dutch | usurperen (overpower), overweldigen (overpower), kraken (crack, creak, grate, overpower). (various references) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Esperanto | uzurpi (overpower). (various references) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Faeroese | ræna til sín (overpower). (various references) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Farsi | غصب کردن (Arrogate, Wring), ربودن (Abduct, Abstract, Bag, Betake, Get, Grab, Hook, Purloin, Ravish, Reave, Rob, Snatch, Steal), بزورگرفتن (Exact, Extort, Hog, Wring). (various references) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Finnish | anastaa (annex, appropriate, lay hold of, seize). (various references) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
French | usurper. (various references) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
German | sich bemächtigen (come over, seize, take hold, to take possession of), usurpieren. (various references) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Greek | σφετερίζομαι (appropriate, arrogate, embezzle, misappropriate, peculate, purloin, trench). (various references) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Hebrew | לתפוס שלטון בכוח, לחמוס (destroy, maraud). (various references) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Hungarian | bitorol (to entrench upon, to usurp). (various references) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Icelandic | yfirtaka (overpower). (various references) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Indonesian | merebut (arrogate, compete for and win something, poach, seize, wrest). (various references) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Italian | usurpare (encroach). (various references) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Japanese Kanji | 乗っ取る (to capture, to occupy, to usurp), 乗り取る (to capture, to occupy, to usurp). (various references) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Japanese Katakana | のっとる (to be in accordance with, to capture, to conform to, to occupy, to usurp), のりとる (to capture, to occupy, to usurp). (various references) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Manx | goaill er niart (overpower), cleiy fo (subvert, supplant, undermine authority). (various references) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Norwegian | okkupere (overpower). (various references) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Pig Latin | urpusay usurpar (encroach, impinge, infringe, invade, overpower). (various references) uzurpa, încãlca (break, defy, impinge, infringe, infringe on, infringe upon, invade, overrun, poach, scorn, violate). (various references) узурпировать (assume). (various references) uzurpirati (wrest), prisvojiti (appropriate, arrogate, assume, catch hold of, convert, preempt). (various references) usurpar (assertiveness, assume, encroach, encroach on, infringe on, inroad). (various references) tillskansa sig, inkräkta på (entrench upon, infringe on, invade, violate). (various references) zorla almak (exact, extort, grab, rape, reave, Rob, snatch, squeeze, wrench, wrench smth. away from smb., wrench smth. from smb., wrest, wring), gaspetmek (disseise, disseize, extort, hijack, invade, rape, ravish, seize, seize by force, spoliate, wrest, wrest from), el koymak (appropriate, arrest, attach, capture, commandeer, condemn, distrain, distrain on, distrain up, distress, embargo, hold, impound, impress, levy, requisition, seise, seize, sequester, sequestrate, take the action, vest). (various references) узурпувати (assume), зазіхати (infringe). (various references) trawsfeddiannu. (various references) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Language | Period | Translations |
| Latin | 500 BCE-Modern | invado, usurpabis, usurpare, usurpaverunt. (various references) |
| Source: compiled by the editor from various references. | ||
| Language | Date | Source | 1 Timothy Chapter 2, Verse 12 |
| Greek (transliterated) | 250 BC | Septuagint | Gunaiki de didaskein ouk epitrepw oude auqentein androV all einai en hsucia |
| Latin | 405 | Vulgate | Docere autem mulieri non permitto neque dominari in virum sed esse in silentio |
| Middle English | 1395 | Wyclif | But Y suffre not a womman to teche, nether to haue lordschip on the hosebonde, but to be in silence. |
| Renaissance English | 1526 | Tyndale | I suffre not a woman to teache nether to have auctoricie over a man: but forto be in silence. |
| Jacobean English | 1611 | King James | But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence. |
| Victorian English | 1833 | Webster | But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence. |
| Basic English | 1964 | Ogden | In my opinion it is right for a woman not to be a teacher, or to have rule over a man, but to be quiet. |
Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits. | |||
| Language | 1 Timothy Chapter 2, Verse 12 |
| Cebuano | Dili ako motugot nga ang babaye magpanudlo o magbuot sa mga lalaki; kinahanglan magpakahilum lamang siya. |
| Croatian | Pouèavati pak ženi ne dopuštam, ni vladati nad mužem, nego - neka bude na miru. |
| Danish | men at være Lærer tilsteder jeg ikke en Kvinde, ikke heller at byde over Manden, men at være i Stilhed. |
| Dutch | Doch ik laat de vrouw niet toe, dat zij lere, noch over den man heerse, maar wil, dat zij in stilheid zij. |
| Finnish | mutta minä en salli, että vaimo opettaa, enkä että hän vallitsee miestänsä, vaan eläköön hän hiljaisuudessa. |
| French | Je ne permets pas la femme d`enseigner, ni de prendre de l`autorité sur l`homme; mais elle doit demeurer dans le silence. |
| German | Einem Weibe aber gestatte ich nicht, daß sie lehre, auch nicht, daß sie des Mannes Herr sei, sondern stille sei. |
| Haitian Creole | Mwen pa bay fanm yo dwa moutre pesonn anyen. Yo pa gen okenn otorite sou gason. Se pou yo rete byen trankil. |
| Hungarian | A tanítást pedig nem engedem meg az asszonynak, sem hogy a férfin uralkodjék, hanem legyen csendességben. |
| Indonesian-Bahasa Sehari-hari | Saya tidak membenarkan wanita mengajar ataupun memerintah laki-laki; mereka harus diam. |
| Indonesian-Terjemahan Lama | Tetapi tiada aku mengizinkan seorang perempuan mengajar atau memerintah atas laki-laki, melainkan hendaklah ia berdiam diri. |
| Italian | Non concedo a nessuna donna di insegnare, né di dettare legge all'uomo; piuttosto se ne stia in atteggiamento tranquillo. |
| Maori | E kore hoki e tukua e ahau te wahine kia whakaako, kia neke ake ranei tana tikanga i ta te tane, engari me ata noho. |
| Norwegian | men jeg tillater ikke en kvinne å være lærer eller å være mannens herre, hun skal være i stillhet. |
| Portuguese | Pois não permito que a mulher ensine, nem tenha domínio sobre o homem, mas que esteja em silêncio. |
| Rumanian | Femeii nu -i dau voie sq knveye pe alyii, nici sq se ridice mai pe sus de bqrbat, ci sq stea kn tqcere. |
| Russian | Б ХЮЙФШ ЦЕОЕ ОЕ ПЪЧПМСА, ОЙ ЧМБУФЧПЧБФШ ОБ" НХЦЕН, ОП 'ЩФШ Ч 'ЕЪНПМЧЙЙ. |
| Shuar | Nuwanka Ashí iruntramunam unuiniartinniasha tura ni aishrin akupkatniuncha suritiajai. Antsu takamtak pujustiniaiti. |
| Spanish | porque no permito a una mujer enseñar ni ejercer dominio sobre el hombre, sino estar en silencio. |
| Swahili | Mimi simruhusu mwanamke amfundishe au amtawale mwanamume; anapaswa kukaa kimya. |
| Swedish | Däremot kan jag icke tillstädja en kvinna att själv uppträda såsom lärare, ej heller att råda över sin man; fastmer må hon leva i stillhet. |
| Uma | Uma kupiliu tobine mpotudui' ba mpohawai' tomane. Kana mengkalino-ra mpe'epei-wadi. |
Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits. | |
Derivations | |
Words beginning with "usurp": usurpation, usurpations, usurped, usurper, usurpers, usurping, usurps. (additional references) | |
| |
"Usurp" is suggested in spellcheckers for the following: esurp, Nusur, surp, Uhura, Uluru, unsurp, userp, usr, ussuri, usu, usura, usurpe, usurpt, uup, uzu, uzurp. (additional references) | |
| Source: compiled by the editor, based on several corpora (additional references). | |
Scrabble® Enable2K-Verified Anagrams | |
| Words within the letters "p-r-s-u-u" | |
-1 letter: purs, spur, urus. | |
-2 letters: pur, pus, sup, ups. | |
-3 letters: up, us. | |
| Words containing the letters "p-r-s-u-u" | |
+1 letter: prunus, pursue, rumpus, uprush, usurps. | |
+2 letters: brushup, cuprous, cuprums, euripus, pursued, pursuer, pursues, pursuit, sulphur, surplus, turnups, upcurls, uprouse, upsurge, upturns, usurped, usurper. | |
+3 letters: brushups, croupous, cupreous, cutpurse, guipures, guruship, outpours, prunuses, pruritus, purlieus, purpuras, purpures, pursuant, pursuers, pursuing, pursuits, pustular, repursue, roundups, rumpuses, ruptures, sourpuss, spurious, subgroup, sulphurs, sulphury, thruputs, unsprung, upcurves, uproused, uprouses, uprushed, uprushes, upsprung, upsurged, upsurges, upthrust, usurpers, usurping. | |
| Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits. SCRABBLE® is a registered trademark. All intellectual property rights in and to the game are owned in the U.S.A and Canada by Hasbro Inc., and throughout the rest of the world by J.W. Spear & Sons Limited of Maidenhead, Berkshire, England, a subsidiary of Mattel Inc. Mattel and Spear are not affiliated with Hasbro. | |
| 1. Definition 2. Synonyms 3. Crosswords 4. Quotations: Historic | 5. Quotations: Non-fiction 6. Quotations: Speeches 7. Usage Frequency 8. Expressions | 9. Expressions: Internet 10. Translations: Modern 11. Translations: Ancient 12. Bible Trace | 13. Derivations 14. Anagrams 15. Bibliography |
Copyright © Philip M. Parker, INSEAD. Terms of Use.
