arrogate
v.v. To take or claim something, like power or a right, that you don't deserve or have permission for. This is usually seen as unfair or overly proud.
v. To claim or seize something, especially power or a right, without justification or legal authority. The action implies presumption and is viewed negatively.
The leader arrogates all power to himself.
The judiciary must not arrogate to itself the powers of the legislature.
In his critique, the philosopher argued that science should not arrogate to itself the authority to answer all questions of human meaning and purpose.
From Latin arrogātus, the perfect passive participle of arrogō — itself a compound of ad ("to") and rogō ("ask") — the verb originally denoted the act of demanding something as one's own.
The verb is transitive and often used reflexively with 'to oneself' or 'to itself'. It typically takes an abstract noun like 'power', 'authority', or 'responsibility' as its object.
The government arrogated the unpopular tax.The government abrogated the unpopular tax.Often confused with 'abrogate' (to repeal or cancel). 'Arrogate' means to claim or seize power, not to cancel something.