Also 5 -tyon, 5–7 -cion, etc. [ad. L. surreptio, -ōnem, n. of action f. surripĕre to seize or take away secretly, purloin, (in the Vulgate) to make false suggestions, f. sur- = SUB- 24 + rapĕre to seize. Cf. OF. surreption, and SUBREPTION.]

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  † 1.  Suppression of truth or fact for the purpose of obtaining something, or the action of obtaining something in this way (cf. SUBREPTION 1); more generally, fraudulent misrepresentation, or other underhand or stealthy proceeding. Obs.

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c. 1400.  Pilgr. Sowle (Caxton), I. xxxvi. (1859), 40. This lady Misericord … hath caused in this Courte grete annoye … by cause of purchacyng of this letter…. But, me semyth … that somme poyntes conteyned therynne ben not to be receyued, for they semyn geten and purchacyd by surreptyon.

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c. 1450.  Godstow Reg., 676. He charged that none shold be made abbesse there by violence or wylynesse of surrepcion.

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c. 1555.  Harpsfield, Divorce Hen. VIII. (Camden), 148. Marvel it is … the Pope should be abused … by any surreption.

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1600.  W. Watson, Decacordon (1602), 252. The excommunication of Pius 5. [against Q. Elizabeth was] procured vpon false suggestions, and so by surreption.

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1609.  Bible (Douay), Dan. vi. 6. Then the princes, and governers by surreption suggested to the king [Vulg. surripuerunt regi], and spake unto him.

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a. 1616.  B. Jonson, Pr. Henry’s Barriers, 109. Fame by surreption got May stead us for the time, but lasteth not.

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1624.  Bedell, Lett., iii. 71. It occasioned the Arch-Priest here … to thinke those letters forged, or gotten by surreption.

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1649.  Bp. Hall, Cases Consc. (1650), 369. The surreption of secretly-mis-gotten dispensations.

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1662.  Jesuits’ Reasons (1675), 121. You, by Grace or Surreption, have purloyn’d a Command from that Court.

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1720.  J. Johnson, Coll. Eccl. Laws Ch. Eng., I. P v j. We do … forbid the Charter … to be of any Validity, because gotten by Surreption, and unsincere Suggestions.

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  2.  The action of seizing or taking away by stealth; stealing, theft. By surreption: by stealth, stealthily (cf. next). Now rare or Obs.

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1603.  Owen, Pembrokeshire (1892), 274. Leaste by surrepcion the Knappan should be snatched by a borderer of the game.

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1610.  Carleton, Jurisd., 47. Which power in Bishops the Pope hath by surreption drawen to himselfe.

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1641.  H. L’Estrange, God’s Sabbath, 28. To distinguish truth from fables, which had by surreption intruded.

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1651.  Hobbes, Leviath., II. xxx. 179. Fraudulent surreption of one anothers goods.

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a. 1656.  Hales, Gold. Rem. (1673), I. 82. He which otherwise dies, comes by surreption and stealth, and not warrantably unto his end.

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1661.  Godolphin, View Adm. Jurisd., Introd. Rendring Ship or Lading liable … to a seizure or surreption.

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a. 1680.  Butler, Rem. (1759), I. 407. The Dr. was so impatient to try the Experiment solitary, that … he adventured … to invade it by Surreption and Involation.

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1860.  G. Grove, in W. Smith, Dict. Bible, I. 370. Four soldiers,… whose express office was to prevent the surreption of the body.

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  † 3.  Something introduced by stealth, an interpolation. Obs. rare–1.

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c. 1637.  Jer. Taylor, Reverence due to Altar (1848), 43. The Missa latina Antiqua … was set forth by protestants to be a redargution of the surreptions, and innovations in the later Missals.

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