levirate

noun

le·​vi·​rate ˈle-və-rət How to pronounce levirate (audio)
ˈlē-,
-ˌrāt How to pronounce levirate (audio)
: the sometimes compulsory marriage of a widow to a brother of her deceased husband
leviratic
ˌle-və-ˈra-tik How to pronounce levirate (audio)
ˌlē-
adjective

Word History

Etymology

Latin levir husband's brother; akin to Old English tācor husband's brother, Greek daēr

First Known Use

1725, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of levirate was in 1725

Dictionary Entries Near levirate

Levine

levirate

Lévis

See More Nearby Entries 

Cite this Entry

“Levirate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/levirate. Accessed 28 Mar. 2023.

Copy Citation

Share

More from Merriam-Webster on levirate

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about levirate

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of bildungsroman

See Definitions and Examples »

Test Your Vocabulary

Which Came First?

  • baby chick with a brown egg
  • hot take or cold shoulder?
True or False

Test your knowledge - and maybe learn something along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ
Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can with using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.

Can you make 12 words with 7 letters?

PLAY
Words at Play
Ask the Editors
Word Games