to take exclusive possession of (something)
He had appropriated the larger attic as his workroom
(often + to) to set (something, esp money) apart for a particular purpose or use
to take or make use of (something) without authority or right
It was not a surprise that Egypt had appropriated the Canal — Enoch Powell
appropriation noun
appropriable adj
appropriator noun
[Middle English appropriaten from late Latin appropriatus, past part. of appropriare to make one's own]