Inherit

3 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Inherit \In*her"it\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Inherited}; p. pr. &
     vb. n. {Inheriting}.] [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}.]
     [1913 Webster]


     1. (Law) 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.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     2. To receive or take by birth; to have by nature; to derive
        or acquire from ancestors, as mental or physical
        qualities, genes, or genetic traits; as, he inherits a
        strong constitution, a tendency to disease, etc.; to
        inherit hemophilia
        [1913 Webster +PJC]
  
              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.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     3. To come into possession of; to possess; to own; to enjoy
        as a possession.
        [1913 Webster]
  
              But the meek shall inherit the earth. --Ps. xxxvii.
                                                    11.
        [1913 Webster]
  
              To bury so much gold under a tree,
              And never after to inherit it.        --Shak.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     4. To put in possession of. [R.] --Shak.
        [1913 Webster]

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Inherit \In*her"it\, v. i.
     To take or hold a possession, property, estate, or rights by
     inheritance.
     [1913 Webster]
  
           Thou shalt not inherit our father's house. --Judg. xi.
                                                    2.
     [1913 Webster]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  inherit
       v 1: obtain from someone after their death; "I inherited a castle
            from my French grandparents" [syn: {come into}]
       2: receive from a predecessor; "The new chairman inherited many
          problems from the previous chair"
       3: receive by genetic transmission; "I inherited my good
          eyesight from my mother"