Primogeniture Definition

prīmō-jĕnĭ-cho͝or
noun
The condition or fact of being the firstborn of the same parents.
Webster's New World
The exclusive right of the eldest son to inherit his father's estate.
Webster's New World
First born. An ancient rule of descent by which the firstborn son inherits all the property of his deceased father, usually to the exclusion of all his siblings. The purpose of primogeniture was to keep the estate (real property), the ownership of which implied power, from being subdivided into smaller and smaller parcels of land.
Webster's New World Law

Other Word Forms of Primogeniture

Noun

Singular:
primogeniture
Plural:
primogenitures

Origin of Primogeniture

  • Late Latin prīmōgenitūra Latin prīmō at first (from prīmus first per1 in Indo-European roots) Latin genitūra birth (from genitus) (past participle of gignere to beget genə- in Indo-European roots)

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

  • Late Latin primogenitura, from Latin primus + genitura birth, from genitus, past participle of gignere

    From Wiktionary

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