[f. as prec. + -ING2.]
1. That usurps, in various senses. Also in fig. context.
1574. Homilies, II. Rebellion, VI. 611. [To] blesse the cursynges of suche wicked vsurpyng bishops and tyrantes.
1586. Marlowe, 1st Pt. Tamburl., IV. iii. That such a base vsurping vagabond Should … weare a princely crowne.
1596. Edward III., III. iii. 35. The vsurping King of Fraunce.
a. 1642. Godolphin, in Caroline Poets, II. (1906), 247. Hear an usurping soule doth dwell.
1659. Nicholas Papers (Camden), IV. 164. ’Tis a reasonable … demaunde, specially as to new and vsurpinge lords.
1707. Norris, Treat. Humility, vii. 313. God is jealous of his glory;… he makes war against the proud man, as an usurping invader of it.
1715. Pope, Iliad, II. 242. That worst of tyrants, an usurping crowd.
1818. Byron, Ch. Har., IV. cliii. I have … survey’d Its [sc. St. Sophia’s] sanctuary the while the usurping Moslem pray’d.
1833. J. H. Newman, Arians, II. i. 160. To expel an usurping idol from the house of God.
1901. Glover, Life & Lett. in 4th Cent., Introd. 9. Usurping and suspicious Emperors.
b. transf. Of things.
1588. Shaks., L. L. L., IV. iii. 259. It mournes, that painting vsurping [= false] haire Should rauish doters with a false aspect. Ibid. (1590), Com. Err., II. ii. 180. If ought possesse thee from me, it is drosse, Vsurping Iuie, Brier, or idle Mosse.
1634. Milton, Comus, 337. If your influence be quite damm’d up With black usurping mists.
a. 1661. Fuller, Worthies, III. (1662), 226. It follows not that the Usurping Tulip is better then the Rose.
c. fig. Of emotions, qualities, etc.
1633. G. Herbert, Temple, Love, II. iii. Thou shalt recover all thy gods in kinde, Who wert disseized by usurping lust.
1659. W. Chamberlayne, Pharon., I. III. 319. By that Rood To wash usurping grief from off that part Where most she reigned.
1698. W. Chilcot, Evil Thoughts, vi. 165. There are none more apt to grow usurping and ungovernable … than these [thoughts].
1747. Johnson, Winter, ii. The ling’ring hours prolong the night, Usurping Darkness shares the day.
2. Characterized by usurpation.
1809. Wordsw., ‘O’er the wide earth,’ 8. In these usurping times of fear and pain.
Hence Usurpingly adv.
1589. Hay any Work, 25. Many other causes, which you bishops … do usurpingly take from the ciuill magistrate.
1621. T. Williamson, trans. Goulart’s Wise Vieillard, 76. Either for that their children misgouerne themselues, or their wiues behaue themselues vsurpingly.
1661. Sir H. Vane’s Politicks, 3. It skills not much whether lineally descended, or usurpingly advanced.
1837. Poe, Tamerlane, 32. The fever’d diadem on my brow I claim’d and won usurpingly.
