a. [ad. late L. ūsurpātīv-us, f. L. ūsurpāre: see USURP v.] Of the nature of, marked or characterized by, usurpation; arbitrary.

1

1797.  J. Pinkerton, Hist. Scot., I. 10. Pretensions, which now strike as vague or usurpative.

2

1811.  Monthly Rev., LXVI. 470. Laurence was of a less usurpative and more tolerant disposition.

3

1827.  G. S. Faber, Sacr. Calend. Prophecy (1844), II. 64. A clear usurpative invasion of the … coequal independence of all the other Patriarchs.

4

1879.  Tourgee, Fool’s Err., xx. 115. The foolish usurpative acts of the President.

5

1908.  Amer. Naturalist, XLII. 16. The usurpative control of their nutrition by the fungus suggests [etc.].

6

  Hence Usurpatively adv. rare–1.

7

1838.  G. S. Faber, Inquiry, 334. Let him not dare usurpatively to administer any divine sacrament, until [etc.].

8