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

escheat Related Forms

es·cheat′·able adjective

escheat Law Definition

n

The transfer of property to government ownership when its owner dies without a will or any heirs; property that is so transferred.

escheat Usage Examples

Object

land: In the reign of K Edw III, William Clinton died without heirs; his lands escheated to the Crown.

Browse dictionary entries near escheat

  1. ‹ eschatology
  2. ‹ escharotic
  3. ‹ eschar
  4. ‹ eschalot
  5. ‹ -escent
  6. ‹ -escence
  7. ‹ Escaut
  8. ‹ escarpment
  9. ‹ escarp
  10. ‹ escarole
  1. escheatment ›
  2. Escher ›
  3. eschew ›
  4. Escoffier ›
  5. escolar ›
  6. ESCON ›
  7. Escondido ›
  8. Escorial ›
  9. escort ›
  10. escritoire ›