A more thorough explanation:

Definition: Usurpatio (yoo-suh r-pay-shi-oh) is a legal term from Roman law. It refers to the interruption of usucapio, which is the process of acquiring ownership of property through continuous possession. This interruption can happen when the real owner takes back possession of the property or when there is a lawsuit over who owns the property. The plural form of usurpatio is usurpationes (yoo-suh r-pay-shi-oh-neez).

Example 1: John has been living in a house that he thought was abandoned for over 10 years. He has been taking care of the property and paying property taxes. However, the real owner of the house suddenly appears and demands that John leave. This is an example of usurpatio because John's possession of the property was interrupted by the real owner's claim to the property.

Example 2: Mary buys a car from a private seller. She pays for the car and takes possession of it. However, the seller did not have the legal right to sell the car because it was still under a lease agreement. The leasing company finds out and takes back the car from Mary. This is an example of usurpatio because Mary's possession of the car was interrupted by the leasing company's claim to the property.

These examples illustrate how usurpatio can occur when someone's possession of property is interrupted by the rightful owner or a legal dispute over ownership.