accroach

To hook, or draw to oneself as with a hook.

Verb

  1. To hook, or draw to oneself as with a hook.
  2. To usurp, as jurisdiction or royal prerogatives.
    • They had attempted to accroach to themselves royal power. - 1874-1878, William Stubbs, Constitutional History of England:
  3. To encroach.

Origin

From Middle English acrochen, from Old French acrochier (“to hook in”), from a + croche (“hook”).

Forms

accroaches accroaching accroached

Derived

accroachement