Heir

Heir
Heir Heir ([^a]r), n. [OE. heir, eir, hair, OF. heir, eir, F. hoir, L. heres; of uncertain origin. Cf. {Hereditary}, {Heritage}.] 1. One who inherits, or is entitled to succeed to the possession of, any property after the death of its owner; one on whom the law bestows the title or property of another at the death of the latter. [1913 Webster]

I am my father's heir and only son. --Shak. [1913 Webster]

2. One who receives any endowment from an ancestor or relation; as, the heir of one's reputation or virtues. [1913 Webster]

And I his heir in misery alone. --Pope. [1913 Webster]

{Heir apparent}. (Law.) See under {Apparent}.

{Heir at law}, one who, after his ancector's death, has a right to inherit all his intestate estate. --Wharton (Law Dict.).

{Heir presumptive}, one who, if the ancestor should die immediately, would be his heir, but whose right to the inheritance may be defeated by the birth of a nearer relative, or by some other contingency. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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  • heir — / ar/ n: one who inherits or is entitled to succeed to the possession of property after the death of its owner: as a: one who by operation of law inherits the property and esp. the real property of a person who dies without leaving a valid will… …   Law dictionary

  • heir — [eə ǁ er] noun [countable] LAW the person who has the legal right to receive another person s money, property, or business after that person has died: heir to • Taki is heir to a Greek shipping fortune. * * * heir UK US /eər/ noun [C] ► LAW …   Financial and business terms

  • heir — c.1300, from Anglo Fr. heir, O.Fr. oir heir, successor, from L. heredem (nom. heres) heir, heiress (see HEREDITY (Cf. heredity)). Heir apparent (late 14c.) has the French order of noun adjective, though it was not originally so written in English …   Etymology dictionary

  • heir — An heir apparent is an heir whose claim cannot be set aside by the birth of another heir. An heir presumptive is an heir whose claim may be set aside if another heir with a stronger claim is born. Heir apparent is often used now of a person… …   Modern English usage

  • heir — [ er ] noun count ** 1. ) someone who will receive money, property, or a title when another person dies: a real estate heir heir to: Hesketh was the heir to a grocery fortune. heir to the throne (=the next king or queen): Richard was now heir to… …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • heir — [eə US er] n [Date: 1300 1400; : Old French; Origin: Latin heres] 1.) the person who has the legal right to receive the property or title of another person when they die heir to ▪ John was the sole heir to a vast estate. heir to the throne (=the… …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • Heir — Heir, v. t. To inherit; to succeed to. [R.] [1913 Webster] One only daughter heired the royal state. Dryden. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • heir — [n] person who inherits possessions beneficiary, crown prince/princess, devisee, grantee, heritor, inheritor, next in line, scion, successor; concepts 355,414 Ant. heiress …   New thesaurus

  • heir — ► NOUN 1) a person legally entitled to the property or rank of another on that person s death. 2) a person who continues the work of a predecessor. DERIVATIVES heirship noun. ORIGIN Old French, from Latin heres …   English terms dictionary

  • heir — [er] n. [ME < OFr < L heres: see HEREDITY] 1. a person who inherits or is legally entitled to inherit, through the natural action of the law, another s property or title upon the other s death 2. anyone who receives property of a deceased… …   English World dictionary

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