usurpatio

Forms

ūsūrpātiō f (genitive ūsūrpātiōnis); third declension^[1]

Etymology

It is formed from Latin ūsurpō + -tiō.^[2][1] De Vaan lists ūsurpō (“to carry out, make use of, take possession of”) among the derivatives of ūtor (“to use”).^[3]

Earliest recorded meaning

Cicero uses it in the Verrines, of the claiming of citizenship (usurpatio civitatis).^[4]

Semantic evolution

The word covered the making use of something and the putting of a practice into effect, as Cicero's usurpatio doctrinae, the use of a word or name in speech in Livy, and linguistic usage in Gellius.^[2][4] Livy also has it of asserting a right by exercising it.^[2] From the start it could mean taking possession without a legal claim, and Velleius Paterculus used it of assuming an honour, Sulla's dictatorship.^[2]

In legal language it meant unlawful seizure and also the use of a property by another party that interrupts usucapion, as the Digest defines it.^[4][5] British medieval charters use it of taking possession, especially wrongfully, from the 10th century.^[6] English borrowed it, through Old French, as usurpation in the late 14th century.^[7]

Timeline

• 81–43 BC – Cicero, in the Verrines, uses it of claiming citizenship.^[4][5]
• 59 BC–17 AD – Livy uses it of the use of a word and of exercising a right.^[2][5]
• c. 20 BC–30 AD – Velleius Paterculus uses it of assuming an honour.^[2][5]
• c. 165 AD – Gellius uses it of linguistic usage.^[2][5]
• 949 – A British charter speaks of perpetual possession (de perenni usurpatione) of an estate.^[6]
• late 14th century – English borrows it as usurpation.^[7]

Meanings

Noun

1. The making use of something, use; the carrying out (of a practice).^[2][4]
2. The use (of a word or name) in speech; linguistic usage.^[2]
3. Assertion of a right by exercising it.^[2]
4. Taking possession without legal claim; arbitrary assumption (of an honour or title), usurpation.^[2][4]
5. (law) Interruption of usucapion by another party's use.^[4][5]

Related words

• ūsus
• English usurpation

References

1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
3. ^ de Vaan, Michiel (2008), Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the other Italic Languages, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 7, Leiden; Boston: Brill
4. ^ a b c d e f g Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
5. ^ a b c d e f Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
6. ^ a b Latham, R. E., D. R. Howlett, R. K. Ashdowne, et al. (1975–2013), Dictionary of Medieval Latin from British Sources, London: British Academy / Oxford University Press
7. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com