Part a: as used in paragraph 3, what does the word usurpations most nearly mean?

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

/ ˌyu sərˈpeɪ ʃən, -zər- /

This shows grade level based on the word's complexity.

noun

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

illegal seizure and occupation of a throne.

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 related to usurpation

annexation, confiscation, abduction, apprehension, appropriation, arrest, arrogation, assumption, bust, collar, drop, grab, hook, pinch, preemption, seizing, seizure, snatch, commandeering

How to use usurpation in a sentence

• Wallace interrupted Katzenbach and read a long statement, refusing to “willingly submit to the illegal usurpation of power by the federal government.”

• Russians had no choice but face his final decision; his usurpation of political power is sickly humiliating.

• All government action is not a usurpation of individual freedom—it's a matter of striking the right balance.

• Indignation nerved her spirit as she reflected upon the usurpation thus ostentatiously displayed.

• But she was quick to discriminate between usurpation, and legal authority.

• 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.

• But during those times of military usurpation, these passions were the same.

• Rather than submit to the usurpation of the Guises, they preferred to fall with arms in their hands.