[lev-er-it, -uh-reyt, lee-ver-it, -vuh-reyt] 
| the custom of marriage by a man with his brother's widow, such marriage required in Biblical law if the deceased was childless. Deut. 25:5–10. |
[lev-uh-rat-ik, lee-vuh-] , lev⋅i⋅rat⋅i⋅cal, adjective | lev·i·rate (lěv'ər-ĭt, -ə-rāt', lē'vər-ĭt, -və-rāt') n. The practice of marrying the widow of one's childless brother to maintain his line, as required by ancient Hebrew law. [From Latin lēvir, husband's brother; see daiwer- in Indo-European roots.] lev'i·rat'ic (-rāt'ĭk), lev'i·rat'i·cal adj. |
ər
r,