bequeathed

American  

[bih-kweetht, -kweethd] / bɪˈkwiθt, -kwiðd /

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.

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verb

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

Other Word Forms

• unbequeathed adjective

Etymology

Origin of bequeathed

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

The world they bequeathed to us was immeasurably better than the world they'd inherited from their parents.

From BBC

He points out in a note that profit growth of 1% relative to the average of the prior two quarters was lower than the 1.7% benefit bequeathed by the period’s 1.5 extra days.

From The Wall Street Journal

“We maintain ourselves in existence,” he says, “through a style bequeathed to us by our Rilkean memories.”

From The Wall Street Journal

Mr. Rein implores us to override the divisive reflexes evolution has bequeathed us.

From The Wall Street Journal

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

Related Words

• genetic
• inborn
• transmitted