arrogate Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. verb demand as being one's due or property; assert one's right or title to
    claim; lay claim.
    • He claimed his suitcases at the airline counter
    • Mr. Smith claims special tax exemptions because he is a foreign resident
  2. verb make undue claims to having
    assign.
  3. verb seize and take control without authority and possibly with force; take as one's right or possession
    assume; take over; usurp; seize.
    • 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

WordNet

Ar"ro*gate transitive verb
Etymology
L. arrogatus, p. p. of adrogare, arrogare, to ask, appropriate to one's self; ad + rogare to ask. See Rogation.
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Arrogated present participle & verbal noun Arrogating
Definitions
  1. To assume, or claim as one's own, unduly, proudly, or presumptuously; to make undue claims to, from vanity or baseless pretensions to right or merit; as, the pope arrogated dominion over kings.
    He arrogated to himself the right of deciding dogmatically what was orthodox doctrine. Macaulay.

Webster 1913