inherit

The definition of inherit is to receive something, such as money, an asset, or a problem or characteristic from someone else.

(verb)

An example of inherit is when your uncle dies and leaves you his boat.
An example of inherit is when you get your mother's nose.
An example of inherit is when you take a new position and immediately have to deal with a problem left by the person who had your job before.

See inherit in Webster's New World College Dictionary

transitive verb

Obsolete to transfer property to (an heir)
1. to receive (an ancestor's property, title, etc.) by the laws of inheritance upon the ancestor's death
2. to receive (property) by bequest
to receive as if by inheritance from a predecessor
to have (certain characteristics) by heredity

Origin: ME enheriten < OFr enheriter < LL inhereditare, to appoint as heir, inherit < L in, in + heres, heir

intransitive verb

to receive an inheritance; become an heir

Related Forms:

See inherit in American Heritage Dictionary 4

verb in·her·it·ed, in·her·it·ing, in·her·its

verb, transitive

a. To receive (property or a title, for example) from an ancestor by legal succession or will.
b. To receive by bequest or as a legacy.
To receive or take over from a predecessor: The new administration inherited the economic problems of the last four years.
Biology To receive (a characteristic) from one's parents by genetic transmission.
To gain (something) as one's right or portion.

verb, intransitive

To hold or take possession of an inheritance.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English enheriten

Origin: , from Old French enheriter, to make heir to

Origin: , from Late Latin inhērēditāre, to inherit

Origin: : Latin in-, in; see in-²

Origin: + Late Latin hērēditāre, to inherit (from Latin hērēs, hērēd-, heir; see ghē- in Indo-European roots)

Related Forms: