- Inheriting
- Inherit In*her"it, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Inherited}; p. pr. &
vb. n. {Inheriting}.] [OE. enheriten to inherit, to give a
heritage to, OF. enheriter to appoint as an heir, L.
inhereditare; pref. in- in + hereditare to inherit, fr. heres
heir. See {Heir}.]
[1913 Webster]
1. (Law) To take by descent from an ancestor; to take by
inheritance; to take as heir on the death of an ancestor
or other person to whose estate one succeeds; to receive
as a right or title descendible by law from an ancestor at
his decease; as, the heir inherits the land or real estate
of his father; the eldest son of a nobleman inherits his
father's title; the eldest son of a king inherits the
crown.
[1913 Webster]
2. To receive or take by birth; to have by nature; to derive or acquire from ancestors, as mental or physical qualities, genes, or genetic traits; as, he inherits a strong constitution, a tendency to disease, etc.; to inherit hemophilia [1913 Webster +PJC]
Prince Harry is valiant; for the cold blood he did naturally inherit of his father he hath . . . manured . . . with good store of fertile sherris. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
3. To come into possession of; to possess; to own; to enjoy as a possession. [1913 Webster]
But the meek shall inherit the earth. --Ps. xxxvii. 11. [1913 Webster]
To bury so much gold under a tree, And never after to inherit it. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
4. To put in possession of. [R.] --Shak. [1913 Webster]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.
