primogeniture

American  

[prahy-muh-jen-i-cher, -choor] / ˌpraɪ məˈdʒɛn ɪ tʃər, -ˌtʃʊər /

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.

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primogeniture British  

/ ˌpraɪməʊˈdʒɛnɪtʃə, ˌpraɪməʊˈdʒɛnɪtərɪ, -trɪ /

noun

1. the state of being a first-born

2. law the right of an eldest son to succeed to the estate of his ancestor to the exclusion of all others Compare ultimogeniture

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primogeniture Cultural  

1. 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.

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• primogenital
  adjective
• primogenitureship
  noun
• primogenitary
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of primogeniture

First recorded in 1500–20; from Medieval Latin prīmōgenitūra “a first birth,” equivalent to Latin prīmō “at first” + genitūra, equivalent to genit(us) (past participle of gignere “to beget”) + -ūra noun suffix; see kin, -ure

Explanation

Primogeniture is when the oldest son inherits all or more of his parents' stuff than any of his siblings. When a king dies, his eldest typically son inherits the throne by the rules of primogeniture. It may seem vastly unfair, but primogeniture dates back to the Old Testament. Examples of this practice in which the first-born son receives exclusive inheritance rights can be found throughout history and around the world — from the Middle East to Medieval Europe. Today, perhaps the most widely known example of primogeniture is the succession of the British throne, which gives preference to the eldest male child above all others.

Example Sentences

Primogeniture is also the clean slate of the oldest making the past out of nothing but faint whispers, presences, and tones.

From "How the García Girls Lost Their Accents" by Julia Alvarez

Here then emerges the historical difficulty of Primogeniture.

From Ancient Law Its Connection to the History of Early Society by Maine, Henry Sumner, Sir

Primogeniture was unknown, and the succession to the office of chief was determined by the clan, which had power to select any one within the family lines as Tanist or successor.

From A Short History of England, Ireland and Scotland by Parmele, Mary Platt

Pre-Meidji r�gime, 356 Prerogative, imperial, 307 Preservation, 270 Priests, Buddhist, 208, 326 Primogeniture, 92, 202, 337, 347 Printing, 231ff.

From An Introduction to the History of Japan by Hara, Katsuro

The victory was adjudged to the elder brother—in obedience, I suppose, to the rule of Primogeniture, for he did not succeed in reducing his opponent to a hors de combat.

From Baboo Jabberjee, B.A. by Anstey, F.

Related Words

• bequest
• estate
• heritage
• legacy