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usurper

noun

  1. illegitimate or controversial claimant to state power
L329992 on Wikidata ↗

Wiktionary

Pronunciation: /juˈsɜɹ.pəɹ/ / /juˈzɜː.pə/

noun

Etymology: From Middle English usurper, usurpour, usurpur, from Middle French usurpeur; equivalent to usurp + -er.

  1. One who usurps.

    “The fact that the Yongle emperor was therefore a usurper, regicide and nepoticide (nephew-killer) made compiling the Veritable Record – or official history – of his reign a most dangerous scholarly post. The official given this ticklish task managed to survive several drafts, finally producing one that pleased his master as it omitted the dead nephew's reign altogether.”