inherit

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Contents

[edit] English

[edit] Etymology

Old French enheriter, from Late Latin inhereditare (make heir).

[edit] Pronunciation

[edit] Verb

Infinitive
to inherit

Third person singular
inherits

Simple past
inherited

Past participle
inherited

Present participle
inheriting

to inherit (third-person singular simple present inherits, present participle inheriting, simple past and past participle inherited)

  1. (transitive) To take possession of as a right (especially in Biblical translations)
    Your descendants will inherit the earth.
  2. (transitive) To receive (property or a title etc), by legal succession or bequest after the previous owner's death
    After Grandad died, I inherited the house.
  3. (transitive) (biology) To receive a characteristic from one's ancestors by genetic transmission
    Let's hope the baby inherits his mother's looks and his father's intelligence.
  4. (transitive) To derive from people or conditions previously in force
    This country has inherited an invidious class culture.
  5. (intransitive) to come into an inheritance
    Lucky old Daniel – his parents were both killed, and he's inherited.

[edit] Derived terms

[edit] Translations

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