obreption

O1B3R1E1P3T1I1O1N1
/əbˈɹɛpʃən//ɒbˈɹɛpʃən/

noun

The act of creeping upon with secrecy or by surprise.

Scrabble 13

Meanings

nounobreption (plural obreptions)

plural obreptions

  1. obsoleteThe act of creeping upon with secrecy or by surprise.

    […]the irregularities of the first motions, violent assaults, and importunities of temptations, sudden incursions, and obreptions, sins of mere ignorance and inadvertency […]

    1678, R[alph] Cudworth, The True Intellectual System of the Universe: The First Part; wherein All the Reason and Philosophy of Atheism is Confuted; and Its Impossibility Demonstrated, London: […] Richard Royston, […], →OCLC
  2. obsoleteScots lawAct of obtaining gifts of escheat by fraud or surprise.
    1 more example

    In Mr John Maitland's action against Cardross, (vide 17th instant,) the Lords repelled Cardross's allegeances founded upon the impetrating of the gift of eschat from his Majesty by obreption expresso mendacio, or subreption celata veritate; because it appeared that there was a competition made by Cardross before the gift was past in Exchequer, and this same objection was made against it, that it was impetrated viis et modis;

    1826, Mungo Ponton Brown, Supplement to the Dictionary of the Decisions of the Court of Session, page 390
  3. CatholiclawThe inclusion of false statements in a petition for a rescript.

    A dispensation from a minor impediment is not vitiated by obreption or subreption, even though the final cause alleged be false.

    1918, Henry Amans Ayrinhac, Marriage Legislation in the New Code of Canon Law, page 103

Origin

  1. Latinobreptio
  2. Englishobreption

From Latin obreptio, from obrepo, obreptum (“to creep up to”), from ob (see prefix ob-) + repo (“to creep”).

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

obreption. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/obreption

MLA

“obreption.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/obreption. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “obreption,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/obreption.

Source: obreption on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.