Main Entry: in·her·it

Pronunciation: \in-ˈher-ət, -ˈhe-rət\

Function: verb

Etymology: Middle English enheriten to give right of inheritance to, from Anglo-French enheriter, from Late Latin inhereditare, from Latin in- + hereditas inheritance — more at heredity

Date: 14th century

transitive verb 1 : to come into possession of or receive especially as a right or divine portion <and every one who has left houses or brothers or sisters…for my name's sake, will receive a hundredfold, and inherit eternal life — Matthew 19:29 (Revised Standard Version)>
2 a : to receive from an ancestor as a right or title descendible by law at the ancestor's death b : to receive as a devise or legacy
3 : to receive from a parent or ancestor by genetic transmission <inherit a defective enzyme>
4 : to have in turn or receive as if from an ancestor <inherited the problem from his predecessor>intransitive verb : to take or hold a possession or rights by inheritance

— in·her·i·tor \-(r)ə-tər\ noun

— in·her·i·tress \-(r)ə-trəs\ or in·her·i·trix \-(r)ə-(ˌ)triks\ noun