Leviratical

1 definition found

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

  Levirate \Lev"i*rate\ (l[e^]v"[i^]*r[asl]t), Leviratical
  \Lev`i*rat"ic*al\ (-r[a^]t"[i^]*kal), a. [L. levir a husband's
     brother, brother-in-law; akin to Gr. dah`r: cf. F. l['e]virat
     leviration.]
     Of, pertaining to, or in accordance with, a law of the
     ancient Israelites and other tribes and races, according to


     which a woman, whose husband died without issue, was married
     to the husband's brother.
     [1913 Webster]
  
           The firstborn son of a leviratical marriage was
           reckoned and registered as the son of the deceased
           brother.                                 --Alford.
     [1913 Webster]