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

The levirate, or marriage with deceased husband's brother, seems to have had no place in Greek family law.

From On The Structure of Greek Tribal Society: An Essay by Seebohm, Hugh E. (Hugh Exton)

The object of the book has been supposed by some to be to commend the so-called levirate marriage.

From Introduction to the Old Testament by McFadyen, John Edgar

The levirate prevails, or has prevailed, among a great number of races, from the lowest to those considerably advanced.

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