[f. USURPER + -ESS1.] A female usurper.
1640. Howell, Dodonas Gr., 26. She is a double Vsurpresse, in detaining not only Elaiana from her right, but [etc.].
c. 1650. Don Bellianis, 210. Faint not, Usurpress of anothers heart, but animate yourself.
1658. Cleveland, Rustic Rampant, 122. She had seized the Kingdome as an Usurpresse by Tyrannie.
1805. Pennants London, 245. An innocent usurpress [sc. Lady Jane Gray] succeeded to her apartments in 1553.
1834. in Standard, 31 July, 2/1. Deprived of the pacific possession of the Spanish throne by usurpation, I am desirous at this moment that my silence should not supply the slightest shade of value to the acts of the Usurpress.
1868. B. Taylor, in Atlantic Monthly, XXII. Oct., 508.
Thou, that assumest to lead, | |
Holding the truth and the keys of the skies, | |
Art the usurpress indeed, | |
And rulest thy sons with a sceptre of lies. |
1873. Dixon, Two Queens, I. viii. I. 56. The Austrians detested Isabel as a usurpress.