tr.v. ar·ro·gat·ed, ar·ro·gat·ing, ar·ro·gates 1. To take or claim for oneself without right; appropriate: "That's how my cousin came to don the hand-tailored suits and to arrogate to himself the glamorous responsibility for ushering to their tables big-name customers" (Philip Roth). See Synonyms at appropriate. 2. To ascribe on behalf of another in an unwarranted manner: "The Platt Amendment of 1901 arrogated to the United States the right to intervene in Cuba in case of threats to its independence or American lives or property" (Walter McDougall). [Latin arrogāre, arrogāt- : ad-, ad- + rogāre, to ask; see reg- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.] ar′ro·gation n. arro·ga′tive adj. arro·ga′tor n. |
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