Examples Word Origin
See more synonyms for inherit on Thesaurus.com to take or receive (property, a right, a title, etc.) by succession or will, as an heir: to inherit the family business. to receive as if by succession from predecessors: the problems the new government inherited from its predecessors. to receive (a genetic character) by the transmission of hereditary factors. to succeed (a person) as heir. to receive as one's portion; come into possession of: to inherit his brother's old clothes. Show More
verb (used without object) to take or receive property or the like by virtue of being heir to it. to receive qualities, powers, duties, etc., as by inheritance (followed by from ). to have succession as heir. Show More
Origin of inherit 1275–1325; Middle English en(h)erit(i)en <
Middle French enheriter <
Late Latin inhērēditāre to make heir. See
in-3 ,
hereditary Related forms half-in·her·it·ed , adjective non·in·her·it·ed , adjective pre·in·her·it , verb (used with object) qua·si-in·her·it·ed , adjective re·in·her·it , verb un·in·her·it·ed , adjective Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for inherit Contemporary Examples of inherit Simon did not expect to inherit , and in a way he never really did.
This demographic reality means that whoever wins the suburban vote in 2016 and beyond will inherit the political future.
Having said that, leadership is not a birth right that you inherit and it just keeps going.
The anti-evolutionists were as humiliated in this performance as they were in Inherit the Wind.
For good and ill, they will inherit the world their elders made for them.
Historical Examples of inherit The false cannot inherit the true nor the unclean the lovely.
No one remained to inherit their good name and little fortune.
They do not buy it; they do not conquer it, but they inherit it.
Your father is not an old man; he may marry again, and have a son to inherit his wealth.
You will inherit a very good practice and a comfortable fortune.
British Dictionary definitions for inherit verb -its , -iting or -ited to receive (property, a right, title, etc) by succession or under a will (intr) to succeed as heir (tr) to possess (a characteristic) through genetic transmission (tr) to receive (a position, attitude, property, etc) from a predecessor Show More
Derived Forms inherited , adjective inheritor , noun inheritress or inheritrix , fem n Word Origin for inherit C14: from Old French enheriter, from Late Latin inhērēditāre to appoint an heir, from Latin hērēs heir
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Word Origin and History for inherit v. c.1300, "to make (someone) an heir," from Old French enheriter "make heir, appoint as heir," from Late Latin inhereditare "to appoint as heir," from Latin in- "in" (see in- (2)) + hereditare "to inherit," from heres (genitive heredis ) "heir" (see heredity ). Sense of "receive inheritance" arose mid-14c.; original sense is retained in disinherit . Related: Inherited ; inheriting .
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
To receive a trait from one's parents by genetic transmission. Show More
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
