First recorded in 1720–30
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
When he informed me of your superior rights, I insisted on its being done, at once, so, should any accident occur, you will be heir at law, as a matter of course.
From Home as Found by Cooper, James Fenimore
It was Wheeler who had first told Bassett not to despair of possessing the estates, since they had inserted Sir Charles's heir at law in the entail.
From A Terrible Temptation A Story of To-Day by Reade, Charles
It is true he is not my heir at law.
From The Adventures of Hugh Trevor by Holcroft, Thomas
"And his nephew, Philip Folingsby, Esq., came into possession as heir at law," continued the stranger, in an unvaried tone; "and under his orders I act, having a power of attorney for that purpose."
From Tales and Novels — Volume 02 by Edgeworth, Maria
"It looks desp'rately like it, father," answered the eldest born, who might have been well termed the heir at law of all his progenitor's squatting and fierce propensities.
From The Chainbearer Or, The Littlepage Manuscripts by Cooper, James Fenimore
They won't find Mr. Harrisson's heir-at-law in a hurry.
From Somehow Good by De Morgan, William Frend
The plaintiff, who was heir-at-law, alleged that the will was obtained from an infirm and weak-minded person by fraudulent practices and contrivances.
From Norfolk Annals A Chronological Record of Remarkable Events in the Nineteeth Century, Vol. 2 by Mackie, Charles
And then I had rights in this matter—am I not his heir-at-law?
From Studies in love and in terror by Lowndes, Marie Belloc
To this, the case of the heir-at-law of Major Abbott is nearly a solitary exception.
From The History of Tasmania, Volume I by West, John
Against that claim Earl Lovel made his claim, as heir-at-law, alleging that there was no widow, and no legitimate child.
From Lady Anna by Trollope, Anthony
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
