inherit

in·her·it

verb

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

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.

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inherit

Obs. 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 of inherit

Middle English enheriten from Old French enheriter from Late Latin inhereditare, to appoint as heir, inherit from Classical Latin in, in + heres, heir

to receive an inheritance; become an heir

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inherit

verb

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

verb

transitive

Law
a. To take (property) by law of descent from an intestate owner.
b. To receive (property) by will; receive by bequest or devise.
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 a parent or ancestor by genetic transmission.
To gain (something) as one's right or portion: “A certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” ( King James Bible )

verb

intransitive

To hold or take possession of an inheritance.

Origin of inherit

Middle English enheriten from Old French enheriter to make heir to from Late Latin inhērēditāre to inherit Latin in- in ; see in- ². Late Latin hērēditāre to inherit ( from Latin hērēs hērēd- heir ; see ghē- in Indo-European roots.)

Related Forms:

in·her′i·tor
noun

THE AMERICAN HERITAGE® DICTIONARY OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE, FIFTH EDITION by the Editors of the American Heritage Dictionaries. Copyright © 2016, 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

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"inherit." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 14 January 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/inherit>.

APA Style

inherit. (n.d.). Retrieved January 14th, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/inherit

Verb

(third-person singular simple present inherits, present participle inheriting, simple past and past participle inherited)

To take possession of as a right (especially in Biblical translations).
Your descendants will inherit the earth.
To receive (property or a title etc), by legal succession or bequest after the previous owner's death.
After Grandad died, I inherited the house.
(biology) To receive a characteristic from one's ancestors by genetic transmission.
Let's hope the baby inherits his mother's looks and his father's intelligence.
To derive from people or conditions previously in force.
This country has inherited an invidious class culture.
(intransitive) To come into an inheritance.
Lucky old Daniel – his grandfather died rich, and he's inherited.
(computing, programming) To derive (existing functionality) from a superclass.
ModalWindow inherits all the properties and methods of Window.
(computing, programming) To derive a new class from (a superclass).

Usage notes

Do not confuse with inherent.

Origin

Old French enheriter, from Late Latin inhereditare (“make heir”).

English Wiktionary. Available under CC-BY-SA license.

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"inherit." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 14 January 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/inherit>.

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inherit. (n.d.). Retrieved January 14th, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/inherit

inherit - Legal Definition

v

To receive a transfer of property under intestacy laws, or as a bequest, upon the death of a relative.

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"inherit." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 14 January 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/inherit>.

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inherit. (n.d.). Retrieved January 14th, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/inherit

inherit - Medical Definition

v.

To receive a characteristic from a parent or ancestor by genetic transmission.

Related Forms:

in·her′i·tor
n.

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MLA Style

"inherit." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 14 January 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/inherit>.

APA Style

inherit. (n.d.). Retrieved January 14th, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/inherit

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SentencesSentence examples

inherit

inherit

inherit

inherit - Legal Definition

inherit - Medical Definition

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inherit

inherit

inherit

inherit - Legal Definition

inherit - Medical Definition

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