primogeniture
- the state or fact of being the firstborn of children of the same parents.
- Law. the system of inheritance or succession by the firstborn, specifically the eldest son.
Origin of primogeniture
Related Words for primogeniture
legacy, bequest, estate, heritage, devise, birthright, heirloom, gift, primogeniture, claim, right, inheritance, share, due, patrimony, heritanceExamples from the Web for primogeniture
Contemporary Examples of primogeniture
The modern equivalent of primogeniture in the U.S., as Schine sees it, is divorce.
Historical Examples of primogeniture
We need not hesitate to attribute the change to the influence of Primogeniture.
Ancient LawSir Henry James Sumner Maine
Here then emerges the historical difficulty of Primogeniture.
Ancient LawSir Henry James Sumner Maine
Socially it appears far more just and reasonable than the custom of primogeniture.
Medival WalesA. G. Little
Then occurred an extraordinary hitch in the history of primogeniture.
Shakespeare's FamilyMrs. C. C. Stopes
Yet in the case of primogeniture our opinion would have to be modified.
Social Rights and Duties, Volume I (of 2)Sir Leslie Stephen
primogeniture
- the state of being a first-born
- law the right of an eldest son to succeed to the estate of his ancestor to the exclusion of all othersCompare ultimogeniture
Word Origin for primogeniture
Word Origin and History for primogeniture
"right of succession of the first-born," c.1600, from French primogeniture and directly from Medieval Latin primogenitura, from Late Latin primogenitus "first-born," from Latin primo (adv.) "first in order of time," from primus "first" (see prime (adj.)) + genitus, past participle of gignere "to beget" (see genus). Earlier it meant simply "fact of being first-born" (1590s).
primogeniture
A system of inheritance in which land passes exclusively to the eldest son. Until the Industrial Revolution, this system severely restricted the freedom of younger sons, who were often forced into the military or the clergy to earn a living.