arrogate

American  

[ar-uh-geyt] / ˈær əˌgeɪt /

verb (used with object)

arrogated, arrogating

1. to claim unwarrantably or presumptuously; assume or appropriate to oneself without right.

   to arrogate the right to make decisions.

2. to attribute or assign to another; ascribe.

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arrogate British  

/ əˈrɒɡətɪv, ˈærəˌɡeɪt /

verb

1. (tr) to claim or appropriate for oneself presumptuously or without justification

2. (tr) to attribute or assign to another without justification

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Other Word Forms

• arrogatingly adverb
• arrogation noun
• arrogative adjective
• arrogator noun
• unarrogated adjective
• unarrogating adjective

Etymology

Origin of arrogate

1530–40; < Latin arrogātus appropriated, assumed, questioned (past participle of arrogāre ), equivalent to arrog- ( ar- ar- + rog ( āre ) to ask, propose) + -ātus -ate ¹

Example Sentences

“Shortly thereafter, John embarked on a series of steps to arrogate to himself complete control over Mr. Angelos’ assets.

From Seattle Times • Jun. 10, 2022

They are truly generative, an apt term for a novel that queries a selfish inventor, his damaged creature and science’s threat to arrogate creation to itself.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 1, 2018

Judge Jackson said the action was “a stunning power for an agency to arrogate to itself” that the law did not support.

From New York Times • Mar. 24, 2012

But she became annoyed when the overbearing chief of staff seemed to arrogate presidential decision-making responsibilities to himself during Reagan's convalescence from cancer surgery in 1985.

From Time Magazine Archive

He was the autocrat of the county in political and social affairs—one of those men who really know a great deal, but who arrogate more.

From Hoosier Mosaics by Thompson, Maurice