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inherit

 - 6 dictionary results

in⋅her⋅it

  [in-her-it]
–verb (used with object)
1. to take or receive (property, a right, a title, etc.) by succession or will, as an heir: to inherit the family business.
2. to receive as if by succession from predecessors: the problems the new government inherited from its predecessors.
3. to receive (a genetic character) by the transmission of hereditary factors.
4. to succeed (a person) as heir.
5. to receive as one's portion; come into possession of: to inherit his brother's old clothes.
–verb (used without object)
6. to take or receive property or the like by virtue of being heir to it.
7. to receive qualities, powers, duties, etc., as by inheritance (fol. by from).
8. to have succession as heir.
Use inherit in a Sentence
Origin:
1275–1325; ME en(h)erit(i)en < MF enheriter < LL inhērēditāre to make heir. See in- 3 , hereditary
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2010.
Cite This Source Link To inherit
in·her·it   (ĭn-hěr'ĭt)   
v.   in·her·it·ed, in·her·it·ing, in·her·its

v.   tr.

    1. To receive (property or a title, for example) from an ancestor by legal succession or will.

    2. To receive by bequest or as a legacy.

  2. To receive or take over from a predecessor: The new administration inherited the economic problems of the last four years.

  3. Biology To receive (a characteristic) from one's parents by genetic transmission.

  4. To gain (something) as one's right or portion.

v.   intr.
To hold or take possession of an inheritance.

[Middle English enheriten, from Old French enheriter, to make heir to, from Late Latin inhērēditāre, to inherit : Latin in-, in; see in-2 + Late Latin hērēditāre, to inherit (from Latin hērēs, hērēd-, heir; see ghē- in Indo-European roots).]
in·her'i·tor n.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

inherit 
1304, "to make (someone) an heir," from O.Fr. enheriter "make heir, appoint as heir," from L.L. inhereditare "to appoint as heir," from L. in- "in" + hereditare "to inherit," from heres (gen. heredis) "heir." Sense of "receive inheritance" arose c.1340; original sense is retained in disinherit. First record of inheritance "that which is inherited" is from 1473.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Legal Dictionary

Main Entry: in·her·it
Pronunciation: in-'her-it
Function: verb
Etymology: Middle French enheriter to make one an heir, from Late Latin inhereditare, from Latin in- in + hereditas inheritance
transitive verb 1 : to receive (property) from an estate by operation of the laws of intestacy; broadly : to receive (property) either by will or through intestate succession
2 : SUCCEED intransitive verb : to take or hold a possession or rights by inheritance —in·her·i·tor /in-'her-i-t&r/ noun
Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law, © 1996 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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Medical Dictionary

Main Entry: in·her·it
Pronunciation: in-'her-&t
Function: transitive verb
: to receive from a parent or ancestor by genetic transmission
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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inherit in·her·it (ĭn-hěr'ĭt)
v. in·her·it·ed, in·her·it·ing, in·her·its
To receive a trait from one's parents by genetic transmission.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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