Category:Inherit

In*her"it, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Inherited; p. pr. & vb. n. Inheriting.] Etym: [OE. enheriten to inherit, to give a heritage to, OF. enheriter to appoint as an heir, L. inhereditare; pref. in- in + hereditare to inherit, fr. heres heir. See Heir.]

1. (Law)

Defn: To take by descent from an ancestor; to take by inheritance; to take as heir on the death of an ancestor or other person to whose estate one succeeds; to receive as a right or title descendible by law from an ancestor at his decease; as, the heir inherits the land or real estate of his father; the eldest son of a nobleman inherits his father's title; the eldest son of a king inherits the crown.

2. To receive or take by birth; to have by nature; to derive or acquire from ancestors, as mental or physical qualities; as, he inherits a strong constitution, a tendency to disease, etc. Prince Harry is valiant; for the cold blood he did naturally inherit of his father he hath. . . manured. . . with good store of fertile sherris. Shak.

3. To come into possession of; to possess; to own; to enjoy as a possession. But the meek shall inherit the earth. Ps. xxxvii. 11. To bury so much gold under a tree, And never after to inherit it. Shak.

4. To put in possession of. [R.] Shak.

inherit In*her"it, v. i.

Defn: To take or hold a possession, property, estate, or rights by inheritance. Thou shalt not inherit our father's house. Judg. xi. 2.