levirate

American  

[lev-er-it, -uh-reyt, lee-ver-it, -vuh-reyt] / ˈlɛv ər ɪt, -əˌreɪt, ˈli vər ɪt, -vəˌreɪt /

noun

1. a marriage custom in which a man marries his brother's widow.

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levirate British  

/ ˌlɛvɪˈrætɪk, ˈlɛvɪrɪt /

noun

1. the practice, required by Old Testament law, of marrying the widow of one's brother

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Other Word Forms

• leviratic
  adjective
• leviratical
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of levirate

First recorded in 1715–25; from Latin lēvir “husband's brother” (akin to Greek dāḗr, Sanskrit devar, Old English tācor ) + -ate ³

Example Sentences

Several independent cases show that these communities practised so-called levirate unions.

From Science Daily • Apr. 24, 2024

Practices such as the levirate, in which a young male marries his elder brother’s widow, were used widely by Inner Asian Steppe peoples and adopted by a number of early Korean ruling families.

From Textbooks • Apr. 19, 2023

Without resort to that tribunal, the religionist could not discriminate between the sanction of the sixth commandment and the law of the levirate, which he has cancelled.

From Rationalism by Robertson, J. M. (John Mackinnon)

Consequently we cannot, as has already been the case with the so-called levirate, assign the practice definitely either to matripotestal or patripotestal customs, for father's and mother's authority are alike overruled.

From Kinship Organisations and Group Marriage in Australia by Thomas, Northcote Whitridge

Among these customs are infant marriage, infant betrothal, capture, purchase, marrying whole families of sisters, and the levirate.

From Primitive Love and Love-Stories by Finck, Henry Theophilus