bequeathed

[bih-kweetht, -kweethd]

adjective

1. (of personal property or money) disposed of by a person’s final will.

   The college has received a bequeathed gift of $1 million from one of its alumni.

2. handed down or passed on.

   The more conservative council members see traditional values as the bequeathed virtues of a preferred past.

verb

1. the simple past tense and past participle of bequeath.

Other Word Forms

• unbequeathed adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of bequeathed¹

First recorded in 1615–25; bequeath ( def. ) + -ed ² ( def. ) for the adjective senses; bequeath ( def. ) + -ed ¹ ( def. ) for the verb sense

Example Sentences

It takes time for newly-elected presidents to assemble their cabinet, cue up a legislative program, address the problems — or coast on the economic health — bequeathed them by their predecessors.

From Los Angeles Times

The ascent of Benson Boone, with his mustache and his backflips, suggests that Jackman may yet find inheritors to carry on the tradition he himself was bequeathed by Diamond and the rest.

From Los Angeles Times

“Hey, supervisor!” — as he strode past Town Hall to Imagination Park, a gift the city’s most famous resident, filmmaker George Lucas, bequeathed along with life-sized statues of Yoda and Indiana Jones.

From Los Angeles Times

The Mount Shasta Trail Assn., which was bequeathed hundreds of thousands of dollars from an anonymous donor who wanted to see access to the falls, tried for years to negotiate with the railroad, Harch said.

From Los Angeles Times

When Dolores finally learns Vera has bequeathed her the entire estate, instead of expressing wistful gratitude, she breaks into a rage: “B***h! That malicious, high-flown, harping b***h.”

From Salon

Related Words

• genetic 
• inborn 
• transmitted www.thesaurus.com