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inheritance

/ɪnˈhɛɹɪtəns/ noun

In Latin: herctum Wiktionary

noun Definition from WordNet 3.1, Princeton University. Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about inheritance at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

  1. Hereditary succession to a title or an office or property.
  2. That which is inherited; a title or property or estate that passes by law to the heir on the death of the owner.
  3. (genetics) attributes acquired via biological heredity from the parents.

Origin

Inherited from Middle English enheritaunce, inheritaunce, borrowed from Anglo-Norman, Old French enheritaunce, from enheriter. By surface analysis, inherit + -ance.

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)