arrogate

arrogate
    v 1: demand as being one's due or property; assert one's right
         or title to; "He claimed his suitcases at the airline
         counter"; "Mr. Smith claims special tax exemptions because
         he is a foreign resident" [syn: {claim}, {lay claim},
         {arrogate}] [ant: {forego}, {forfeit}, {forgo}, {give up},
         {throw overboard}, {waive}]
    2: make undue claims to having [syn: {arrogate}, {assign}]
    3: seize and take control without authority and possibly with
       force; take as one's right or possession; "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" [syn: {assume}, {usurp}, {seize}, {take
       over}, {arrogate}]
    

Arrogate \Ar"ro*gate\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Arrogated}; p. pr. &
   vb. n. {Arrogating}.] [L. arrogatus, p. p. of adrogare,
   arrogare, to ask, appropriate to one's self; ad + rogare to
   ask. See {Rogation}.]
   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.
   [1913 Webster]

         He arrogated to himself the right of deciding
         dogmatically what was orthodox doctrine. --Macaulay.
   [1913 Webster]
    

50 Moby Thesaurus words for "arrogate":
      accroach, adopt, annex, appropriate, assume, assume command,
      colonize, commandeer, confiscate, conquer, encroach, enslave,
      expropriate, grab, hog, indent, infringe, invade, jump a claim,
      make free with, make use of, monopolize, mount the throne, occupy,
      overrun, play God, preempt, preoccupy, prepossess, pretend to,
      requisition, seize, seize power, seize the throne, sequester,
      sit on, squat on, subjugate, take, take all of, take charge,
      take command, take it all, take over, take possession of,
      take the helm, take the lead, take up, trespass, usurp