Main Entry: in·her·i·tance

Pronunciation: \in-ˈher-ə-tən(t)s, -ˈhe-rə-\

Function: noun

Date: 14th century

1 a : the act of inheriting property b : the reception of genetic qualities by transmission from parent to offspring c : the acquisition of a possession, condition, or trait from past generations
2 : something that is or may be inherited
3 a : tradition b : a valuable possession that is a common heritage from nature
4 obsolete : possession