escheat Hear it!

escheat definition

es·cheat (es c̸hēt′)

noun

  1. the reverting of property to the lord of the manor (in feudal law), to the crown (in England), or to the government (in the U.S.) when there are no legal heirs
  2. property so reverting

Etymology: ME eschete < OFr, lit., that which falls to one < pp. of escheoir, to fall to one's share < VL *excadere, to fall upon < L ex-, out + cadere, to fall: see case

transitive verb

to cause to escheat; confiscate

intransitive verb

to revert or go by escheat

Related Forms:

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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