I.to take into use; to make use of; to use, employ, apply, practise, exercise, enjoy (class.; cf. utor).
I. In gen.: “inter novam rem verbum usurpabo vetus,” Plaut. Cist. 2, 1, 29: “nomen tantum virtutis usurpas: quid ipsa valeat, ignoras,” Cic. Par. 2, 17: “at quam crebro usurpat Et consul, et Antonius!” id. Phil. 2, 28, 70; cf.: “praeclare est hoc usurpatum a doctissimis,” id. Par. 5, 1, 33: “peregrinae condicionis homines vetuit usurpare Romana nomina, duntaxat gentilicia,” Suet. Claud. 25: o barathrum! ubi nunc es? ut ego te usurpem lubens! I would occupy thee (cast myself into thee), Plaut. Bacch. 1, 2, 41: “hoc genus poenae saepe in improbos cives hac in re publicā esse usurpatum recordatur,” Cic. Cat. 4, 4, 7: “conclusio, quā credo usuros veteres illos fuisse, si jam nota atque usurpata res esset,” id. Or. 51, 169: “id nunc jure imperii nostri quotannis usurpatum,” Cic. Verr. 2, 5, 20, § 51; consolationes, a sapientissimis viris usurpatae, id. Fam. 5, 16, 3: “paucas tribus ad usurpandam libertatem vocare,” id. Agr. 2, 7, 17: “officium, quod semper usurpavi,” id. Lael. 2, 8: “quis est, qui C. Fabricii, M'. Curii non um caritate aliquā benevolentiae memoriam usurpet?” who does not cherish the memory of, id. ib. 8, 28: “nec patrum nec avorum memoriā quemquam id jus usurpasse,” Liv. 27, 8, 9: “solita munia,” Tac. H. 4, 49 fin.: “modo comitatem et temperantiam, saepius violentiam ac libidines usurpans,” id. A. 11, 16: “otium post labores,” id. ib. 14, 55: “nec puduit has vestis usurpare etiam viros,” Plin. 11, 23, 27, § 78: “sibi quisque dominorum usurpat servitutem,” Dig. 8, 6, 6, § 1.—With de: “sed de hoc post erit usurpandum, cum de poëtis dicemus,” Varr. L. L. 6, § 52 Müll.—Impers.: usurpatum est, it is usual, customary; with a foll. ut, Dig. 50, 13, 1, § 6: quod in quibusdam provinciis usurpatur, Co. 2, 2, 22.—
II. In partic.
A. Aliquid oculis, auribus, etc., to take possession or cognizance of, i. e. to perceive, observe, etc., through the senses (ante-class.): “nec calidos aestus tuimur, nec frigora quimus Usurpare oculis,” Lucr. 1, 301: “advenio ex Seleuciā, Macedoniā atque Arabiā, Quas ego neque oculis neque pedibus umquam usurpavi meis,” I have never seen nor set foot in, Plaut. Trin. 4, 2, 4: “aliquid sensibus,” Lucr. 4, 975: “unde meae usurpant aures sonitum?” Plaut. Cas. 3, 5, 9.—
B. In jurid. lang., to get possession of, to acquire, obtain a thing: “amissam possessionem ex jure civili surculo defringendo,” Cic. de Or. 3, 28, 110: “nec interest is qui usurpaverit (possessionem) dominus sit, necne,” Dig. 41, 3, 5: “mercatores, qui de fundis fiscalibus mercari consuerunt, nullam immunitatem solvendi publici vectigalis usurpare possunt,” ib. 39, 4, 9, § 8.—Abscl.: Mucium dicere solitum, lege non isse usurpatum mulierem, quae, cum Kal. Jan. apud virum matrimonii causā esse coepisset, a. d. IIII. Kal. Jan. sequentis usurpatum isset; “non enim posse impleri trinoctium, quod abesse a viro usurpandi causa ex XII. tabulis deberet, because, unless absent from him at least three full days of the year, she became subject to him as his wife by prescription,” Gell. 3, 2, 12 sq. Weiss (Herz. legi: non esse usurpatam mulierem); cf. Macr. S. 1, 3, 9; Serv. ad Verg. G. 1, 31; Gai Inst. 1, 111; Gell. 18, 6, 8 sq.—
2. To assume or appropriate unlawfully, to usurp (not ante-Aug.): “civitatem Romanam usurpantes securi percussit,” Suet. Claud. 25: “dominium totius loci,” Cod. Just. 8, 10, 8: “cognomina,” Plin. 35, 10, 36, § 71: “illicitum collegium,” Dig. 47, 22, 2: “cujus jus tyranni quaque usurparunt,” Liv. 34, 32, 2: “alienam possessionem,” id. 33, 40, 5: “possessionem Armeniae,” Tac. A. 14, 26.—
C. To make use of or be acquainted with under any name, i. e. to name or call, to speak of habitually, adopt, assume in words or speech (cf. nuncupo): “Jovem atque Junonem, reliquos, quos fratres inter se agnatosque usurpari atque appellari videmus,” Cic. Univ. 11: “soleo saepe ante oculos ponere idque libenter crebris usurpare sermonibus, omnis posse, etc.,” id. Marcell. 2, 5: “Graecum verbum usurpavi,” id. Phil. 1, 1, 1: “admonet saepe usurpatae Dionysi tyranni vocis, quā, etc.,” Liv. 24, 22, 8: “saepe eum usurpasse vocem, multo miserius seni exilium esse,” id. 2, 40, 11: “tabulata instituenda sunt: hoc enim nomine usurpant agricolae ramos truncosque prominentes,” Col. 5, 6, 11: “C. Laelius, is, qui Sapiens usurpatur,” Cic. Off. 2, 11, 40; Vulg. Deut. 5, 11: “cum hoc decere ... quod semper usurpamus in omnibus dictis et factis ..cum hoc, inquam, decere dicimus,” speak of, insist on, Cic. Or. 22, 73.
