obreption

noun

ob·​rep·​tion

äˈbrepshən

plural -s

canon & Scots law

: the obtaining of or attempting to obtain a dispensation from ecclesiastical authority or a gift from the sovereign by fraud

—distinguished from subreption

Word History

Etymology

Latin obreption-, obreptio act of creeping upon, stealing upon, deceiving, from obreptus (past participle of obrepere to steal upon, surprise, deceive, from ob- to, toward, over + repere to creep) + -ion-, -io -ion

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