inherited

American  

[in-her-i-tid] / ɪnˈhɛr ɪ tɪd /

adjective

1. received from or as if from one’s predecessors.

   Their wealth is from inherited properties, mostly through the estate of their mother’s parents.

   For the novelist Henry James, history, tradition, precedence, and established forms constituted the inherited wisdom of civilization.

2. received through genetic transmission.

   the family’s inherited trait of straight blond hair;

   kidney problems symptomatic of an inherited disorder.

3. Baseball. (of a base runner) allowed on base by a previous pitcher.

   The unlucky reliever balked, hit a batter, threw a wild pitch, allowed an inherited runner to score, and got only one out.

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Other Word Forms

• half-inherited adjective
• noninherited adjective
• quasi-inherited adjective
• uninherited adjective

Etymology

Origin of inherited

First recorded in 1795–1800; inherit ( def. ) + -ed ² ( def. )

Example Sentences

Today, about one percent of people carry these inherited viral copies.

From Science Daily

The DfE said it "inherited a Send system on its knees" and was working on reforms to fix it.

From BBC

Let’s say you went with the plan to start drawing down your nest egg now, and let’s round it up to $410,000, combining your own savings and the inherited IRA balance.

From MarketWatch

In going for Amorim and delivering their 'now or never' ultimatum, United's hierarchy must have known the squad being inherited did not fit the coach's style.

From BBC

These inherited conditions affect the shape and function of red blood cells, often causing severe pain, organ damage, and shortened life expectancy.

From Science Daily