primogeniture
Use Primogeniture in a sentence
məˈdʒɛn noun
1.
the state or fact of being the firstborn of children of the same parents.
2.
Law. the system of inheritance or succession by the firstborn, specifically the eldest son.
Compare postremogeniture.
Origin:
1585–95; < Medieval Latin prīmōgenitūra a first birth, equivalent to Latin prīmō at first + genitūra, equivalent to genit(us) (past participle of gignere to beget; see kin) + -ūra -ure
1585–95; < Medieval Latin prīmōgenitūra a first birth, equivalent to Latin prīmō at first + genitūra, equivalent to genit(us) (past participle of gignere to beget; see kin) + -ūra -ure
Related forms
pri·mo·gen·i·tar·y, pri·mo·gen·i·tal, adjective
pri·mo·gen·i·ture·ship, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Link To primogeniture
00:10
Primogeniture
is always a great word to know.
So is quincunx. Does it mean:
| a calculus or concretion found in the stomach or intestines of certain animals, esp. ruminants, formerly reputed to be an effective remedy for poison. |
| an arrangement of five objects, as trees, in a square or rectangle, one at each corner and one in the middle. |
Collins
World English Dictionary
primogeniture (ˌpraɪməʊˈdʒɛnɪtʃə) ![[Click for IPA pronunciation guide]](http://static.sfdict.com/dictstatic/g/d/dictionary_questionbutton_default.gif) | |
| —n | |
| 1. | the state of being a first-born |
| 2. | law Compare ultimogeniture the right of an eldest son to succeed to the estate of his ancestor to the exclusion of all others |
| [C17: from Medieval Latin prīmōgenitūra birth of a first child, from Latin prīmō at first + Late Latin genitūra a birth] | |
| primogenitary | |
| —adj | |
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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Etymonline
Word Origin & History
primogeniture
c.1600, "right of succession of the first-born," from M.L. primogenitura, from L.L. primogenitus "first-born," from L. primus "first" (see prime (adj.)) + genitus, pp. of gignere "to beget" (see genus).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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American Heritage
Cultural Dictionary
primogeniture [(preye-moh-jen-uh-choor, preye-moh-jen-uh-chuhr)]A system of inheritance in which land passes exclusively to the eldest son. Until the Industrial Revolution, this system severely restricted the freedom of younger sons, who were often forced into the military or the clergy to earn a living.
The American Heritage® New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition
Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
Example sentences
Primogeniture and entail were achieved through indirect means.
Still practicing primogeniture, the oldest member of the oldest generation serves as family umpire.
For these were the arts which had a kind of primogeniture with them severally.
Firms that rely on primogeniture, he notes, perform poorly.
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