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6 dictionary results for: heritage

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This

her·it·age

[her-i-tij] Pronunciation Key

–noun

1.	something that comes or belongs to one by reason of birth; an inherited lot or portion: a heritage of poverty and suffering; a national heritage of honor, pride, and courage.

2.	something reserved for one: the heritage of the righteous.

Law.

a.	something that has been or may be inherited by legal descent or succession.

b.	any property, esp. land, that devolves by right of inheritance.

[Origin: 1175–1225; ME < MF, equiv. to heriter to inherit + -age -age; see heir

]

—Synonyms 1. estate, patrimony. See inheritance.

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.

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American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

her·i·tage (hěr'ĭ-tĭj) Pronunciation Key
n.

Property that is or can be inherited; an inheritance.
Something that is passed down from preceding generations; a tradition.
The status acquired by a person through birth; a birthright: a heritage of affluence and social position.

[Middle English, from Old French, from eritier, heir, from Medieval Latin hērēditārius, from Latin, inherited; see hereditary.]

Synonyms: These nouns denote something immaterial, such as a custom, that is passed from one generation to another: a heritage of moral uprightness; a rich inheritance of storytelling; a legacy of philosophical thought; the tradition of noblesse oblige.

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The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

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Online Etymology Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
heritage

c.1225, "that which may be inherited," from O.Fr. eritage, from heriter "inherit," from L.L. hereditare, ult. from L. heres (gen. heredis) "heir" (see heredity).

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WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This

heritage
noun
1.	practices that are handed down from the past by tradition; "a heritage of freedom"
2.	any attribute or immaterial possession that is inherited from ancestors; "my only inheritance was my mother's blessing"; "the world's heritage of knowledge" [syn: inheritance]
3.	that which is inherited; a title or property or estate that passes by law to the heir on the death of the owner [syn: inheritance]
4.	hereditary succession to a title or an office or property [syn: inheritance]

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U.S. Gazetteer - Cite This Source - Share This

Heritage Village, CT (CDP, FIPS 37930) Location: 41.48558 N, 73.23831 W
Population (1990): 3623 (2700 housing units)
Area: 5.9 sq km (land), 0.0 sq km (water)

U.S. Gazetteer, U.S. Census Bureau

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Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Heritage

Her"it*age\, a. [OE. heritage, eritage, OF. heritage, eritage, F. h['e]ritage, fr. h['e]riter to inherit, LL. heriditare. See Hereditable.]

1. That which is inherited, or passes from heir to heir; inheritance.

Part of my heritage, Which my dead father did bequeath to me. --Shak.

2. (Script.) A possession; the Israelites, as God's chosen people; also, a flock under pastoral charge. --Joel iii. 2. --1 Peter v. 3.

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