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heir

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The definition of heir is a person who is legally entitled to inherit something upon death, or someone who inherits something and then carries on the legacy or tradition.

(noun)

An example of heir is a person gifted with a house in a will.
An example of heir is a person who is next in line to be king after his father dies.
An example of heir is a person who sees herself as gifted with the ideals of the feminist movement.

See heir in Webster's New World College Dictionary

noun

a person who inherits or is legally entitled to inherit, through the natural action of the law, another's property or title upon the other's death
anyone who receives property of a deceased person either by will or by law
a person who appears to get some trait from, or carries on in the tradition of, a predecessor

Origin: ME < OFr < L heres: see heredity

See heir in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun

A person who inherits or is entitled by law or by the terms of a will to inherit the estate of another.
A person who succeeds or is in line to succeed to a hereditary rank, title, or office.
One who receives or is expected to receive a heritage, as of ideas, from a predecessor.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English

Origin: , from Anglo-Norman

Origin: , from Latin hērēs; see ghē- in Indo-European roots

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