The unlawful seizure or encroachment of authority, power, or property that rightfully belongs to someone else, especially in a legal context.
From 'accroach' plus the noun-forming suffix '-ment'. This was a specific legal offense in medieval and Early Modern English law, particularly regarding violations of royal prerogative.
In medieval courts, 'accroachment' was a serious crime because it threatened the whole feudal system—if nobles could grab the king's powers, the entire hierarchy would collapse!
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