arrogate
Meaning: To claim or seize something — typically power, authority, or rights — without justification or legal entitlement.
Arrogate is more formal and less common than 'usurp,' and it emphasises the presumption and unwarranted nature of the claim rather than the act of seizing. It often appears with reflexive constructions — 'arrogate to oneself' — and collocates with power, authority, rights, and responsibility. The related adjective 'arrogant' shares the same Latin root.
Examples
- The committee arrogated to itself the right to veto appointments without any constitutional basis for doing so. 该委员会在没有任何宪法依据的情况下,擅自赋予自己否决人事任命的权力。El comité se arrogó el derecho a vetar nombramientos sin base constitucional alguna para hacerlo.その委員会は、何ら憲法上の根拠もなく、人事任命を拒否する権利を自らに帰した。그 위원회는 아무런 헌법적 근거 없이 인사 임명을 거부할 권리를 스스로에게 부여했다.
- Central government has progressively arrogated powers that were once the preserve of local authorities. 中央政府已逐步攫取了曾属于地方当局的权力。El gobierno central se ha arrogado progresivamente competencias que antaño eran prerrogativa de las autoridades locales.中央政府はかつて地方自治体の領域であった権限を徐々に自らのものとしてきた。중앙 정부는 한때 지방 자치 단체의 고유 영역이었던 권한을 점진적으로 자신의 것으로 가져왔다.
- No single nation should be permitted to arrogate the role of global arbiter in matters of international law. 不应允许任何一个国家在国际法事务上擅自充当全球仲裁者的角色。No debería permitirse a ninguna nación arrogarse el papel de árbitro global en cuestiones de derecho internacional.国際法の問題において、いかなる国も世界の裁定者の役割を一方的に引き受けることが許されるべきではない。국제법 문제에서 어떤 국가도 세계의 중재자 역할을 일방적으로 자처하는 것이 허용되어서는 안 된다.
Pronunciation
Usage Guide
Context: academic, politics, legal
Tone: neutral
Origin & History
From Latin arrogare (to claim for oneself, to ask), from ad- (to) + rogare (to ask, propose). Entered English in the 16th century.
Cultural Context
Era: Modern
Generation: All ages
Social background: Universal
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