accroach

English

Etymology

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

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /əˈkɹəʊtʃ/

  • Audio (Southern England):

    (file)

• Rhymes: -əʊtʃ

Verb

accroach (third-person singular simple present accroaches, present participle accroaching, simple past and past participle accroached)

1. (transitive) To hook, or draw to oneself as with a hook.
2. (transitive) To usurp, as jurisdiction or royal prerogatives.
   • 1874-1878, William Stubbs, Constitutional History of England:

     They had attempted to accroach to themselves royal power.

3. (intransitive) To encroach.

Derived terms

• accroachement