— usurpative /yooh serr"peuh tiv, -zerr"-/ , usurpatory /yooh serr"peuh tawr'ee, -tohr'ee, -zerr"-/ , adj.
/yooh'seuhr pay"sheuhn, -zeuhr-/ , n.
1. an act of usurping; wrongful or illegal encroachment, infringement, or seizure.
2. illegal seizure and occupation of a throne.
[ 1350-1400; ME usurpation- (s. of usurpatio ), equiv. to usurpat ( us ) (ptp. of usurpare to USURP) + -ion- -ION ]