Category:Heir

Heir, n. Etym: [OE. heir, eir, hair, OF. heir, eir, F. hoir, L. heres; of uncertain origin. Cf. Hereditary, Heritage.]

1. One who inherits, or is entitled to succeed to the possession of, any property after the death of its owner; one on whom the law bestows the title or property of another at the death of the latter. I am my father's heir and only son. Shak.

2. One who receives any endowment from an ancestor or relation; as, the heir of one's reputation or virtues. And I his heir in misery alone. Pope. Heir apparent. (Law.) See under Apparent. -- Heir at law, one who, after his ancector's death, has a right to inherit all his intestate estate. Wharton (Law Dict.). -- Heir presumptive, one who, if the ancestor should die immediately, would be his heir, but whose right to the inheritance may be defeated by the birth of a nearer relative, or by some other contingency.

heir Heir, v. t.

Defn: To inherit; to succeed to. [R.] One only daughter heired the royal state. Dryden.

--- ---excerpt from the Illustrated Bible Dictionary

Heir - Under the patriarchs the property of a father was divided among the sons of his legitimate wives (Genesis 21:10; Genesis 24:36; Genesis 25:5), the eldest son getting a larger portion than the rest. The Mosaic law made specific regulations regarding the transmission of real property, which are given in detail in Deuteronomy 21:17; Numbers 27:8; Numbers 36:6; Numbers 27:9. Succession to property was a matter of right and not of favor. Christ is the "heir of all things" (Hebrews 1:2; Colossians 1:15). Believers are heirs of the "promise," "of righteousness," "of the kingdom," "of the world," "of God," "joint heirs" with Christ (Galatians 3:29; Hebrews 6:17; Hebrews 11:7; James 2:5; Romans 4:13; Romans 8:17).