v. [f. L. arrogāt- ppl. stem of adr-, arrogā-re to ask or claim for oneself, to adopt one whose consent may legally be asked, f. ad- to + rogāre to ask. Modern writers on Roman Law have appropriated the form ADROGATE to the specific legal sense.]
1. Rom. L. To adopt as a child. (See ADROGATE.)
1649. Jer. Taylor, Gt. Exemp., III. § 15. 89. He did arrogate John … into Maries kindred.
† b. transf. To adopt (that which is proper to another). Obs.
c. 1530[?]. Epit. Barnes Wks., 371 (R.). The Byshops … doe arrogate vnto themselues some thyng of the Phariseis pride.
2. To claim and assume as a right that to which one is not entitled; to lay claim to and appropriate (a privilege, advantage, etc.) without just reason or through self-conceit, insolence or haughtiness. a. with to and refl. pron.
1537. Latimer, Serm. (1844), 43. How much soever we arrogate these holy titles unto us.
1671. Milton, P. R., IV. 315. To themselves all glory arrogate, to God give none.
1777. Watson, Philip II. (1793), II. XIII. II. 154. The Spaniards … had arrogated to themselves every important branch of the administration.
1844. Ld. Brougham, Brit. Const., ix. § 2 (1862), 120. They arrogated to themselves the right of approving or rejecting all that was done.
b. with simple obj. only.
1593. Bilson, Govt. Christ’s Ch., 18. Yet may they not arrogate any parte of Christes honour.
1667. Milton, P. L., XII. 26. Will arrogate Dominion undeserv’d Over his brethren.
1702. Rowe, Tamerlane, I. ii. 575. And arrogate a Praise that is not ours.
1858. Doran, Crt. Fools, 92. The liberty arrogated by the professor of wit.
3. To lay claim, without reason or through self-conceit, to the possession of (some excellence); to assert without foundation that one has; to assume. a. with to and refl. pron.
1563. Homilies, II. xvi. II. (1859), 461. Whether all men doe justly arrogate to themselves the Holy Ghost, or no?
a. 1638. Mede, Wks., IV. xii. 757. Nor do I arrogate so much ability to myself.
1789. Belsham, Ess., II. xl. 501. They arrogate … all wisdom, knowledge, and even honesty, to themselves.
1872. Black, Adv. Phaeton, xxix. 384. She arrogated to herself a certain importance.
b. with simple obj. only.
1598. Barckley, Felic. Man, Ded. One that arrogateth superioritie over all.
1660. Stanley, Hist. Philos. (1701), 428/2. Thus Pythagoras might arrogate the soul of Euphorbus.
1768. Phil. Trans., LVIII. 149. I can arrogate no merit in the discovery.
1848. H. Rogers, Ess., I. vi. 321. Arrogating the exclusive possession of wisdom.
† c. with inf. or absol. Obs.
1628. Wither, Brit. Rememb., V. 203. Doe falsly arrogate to be inspired.
1648. C. Walker, Relat. & Obs., I. 29. They arrogate to be the peculiar people of God.
1648. Milton, Tenure of Kings, 13. Surely no Christian Prince would arrogate so unreasonably above human condition.
4. To lay similar claim to (something) on behalf of another; to ascribe or attribute to, or demand for, without just reason.
1605. Timme, Quersit., I. vi. 24. We deny that those inset and naturall qualities … are to be arrogated to hotte, moist, and drie.
1810. Coleridge, Friend, I. iv. (1867), 12. To antiquity we arrogate many things, to ourselves nothing.
1863. Cox, Inst. Eng. Govt., I. viii. 111. An attempt was made … to arrogate to the Crown the privilege of issuing writs.
