usurpation

(yo̵̅o̅′sər pās̸hən, -zər-)

noun

the act of usurping; esp., the unlawful or violent seizure of a throne, power, etc.

Origin: ME usurpacion < L usurpatio

See usurpation in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun
  1. The act of usurping, especially the wrongful seizure of royal sovereignty.
  2. A wrongful seizure or exercise of authority or privilege belonging to another; an encroachment: “in our own day, gross usurpations upon the liberty of private life” (John Stuart Mill).

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