subreption

US: (səb rep′shən)

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

sub•rep•tion  (səb rep′shən), n. 

1. Religion [Canon Law.] a concealment of the pertinent facts in a petition, as for dispensation or favor, that in certain cases nullifies the grant. Cf. obreption (def. 1.).
2. [Scots Law.] the act of obtaining something, as an escheat, by concealing pertinent facts. Cf. obreption (def. 2).
3. Law a fallacious representation or an inference from it.

• Latin subreptiōn- (stem of subreptiō) a stealing, equivalent. to subrept(us) (past participle of subripere to steal, itself equivalent. to sub- -sub + -rep- (combining form of rapere to seize, rape¹) + -tus past participle suffix) + -iōn- -ion
• 1590–1600;

sub•rep•ti•tious  (sub′rep tish′əs), adj.