inherit

[in-her-it] /ɪnˈhɛr ɪt/
verb (used with object)
1.
to take or receive (property, a right, a title, etc.) by succession or will, as an heir:
to inherit the family business.
2.
to receive as if by succession from predecessors:
the problems the new government inherited from its predecessors.
3.
to receive (a genetic character) by the transmission of hereditary factors.
4.
to succeed (a person) as heir.
5.
to receive as one's portion; come into possession of:
to inherit his brother's old clothes.
verb (used without object)
6.
to take or receive property or the like by virtue of being heir to it.
7.
to receive qualities, powers, duties, etc., as by inheritance (followed by from).
8.
to have succession as heir.
Origin
1275-1325; Middle English en(h)erit(i)en < Middle French enheriter < Late Latin inhērēditāre to make heir. See in-3, hereditary
Related forms
half-inherited, adjective
noninherited, adjective
preinherit, verb (used with object)
quasi-inherited, adjective
reinherit, verb
uninherited, adjective
Examples from the web for inherit
  • Then, when my children inherit the money, the estate tax will kick in.
  • Equally, if you inherit less wealth from your parents you will be forced to work for your living.
  • Armed with information, students can become good stewards of the world they will inherit.
  • If you do it wrong, you inherit that problem forever.
  • If you eat a genetically modified strain of cauliflower, you won't inherit its gene for frost resistance.
  • They still own the land and their children will inherit it, but it must be kept open and available to farming.
  • Genetics-some scientists believe that migratory animals genetically inherit migratory routes from their parents.
  • Every generation the oldest sons inherit the land and the younger sons have to go find there own.
  • The new commissioner will inherit a smouldering hot seat.
  • Genetics is the study of what characteristics organisms inherit and how these traits are transmitted.
British Dictionary definitions for inherit

inherit

/ɪnˈhɛrɪt/
verb -its, -iting, -ited
1.
to receive (property, a right, title, etc) by succession or under a will
2.
(intransitive) to succeed as heir
3.
(transitive) to possess (a characteristic) through genetic transmission
4.
(transitive) to receive (a position, attitude, property, etc) from a predecessor
Derived Forms
inherited, adjective
inheritor, noun
inheritress, inheritrix, noun:feminine
Word Origin
C14: from Old French enheriter, from Late Latin inhērēditāre to appoint an heir, from Latin hērēsheir
Word Origin and History for inherit
v.

c.1300, "to make (someone) an heir," from Old French enheriter "make heir, appoint as heir," from Late Latin inhereditare "to appoint as heir," from Latin in- "in" (see in- (2)) + hereditare "to inherit," from heres (genitive heredis) "heir" (see heredity). Sense of "receive inheritance" arose mid-14c.; original sense is retained in disinherit. Related: Inherited; inheriting.

inherit in Medicine

inherit in·her·it (ĭn-hěr'ĭt)
v. in·her·it·ed, in·her·it·ing, in·her·its
To receive a trait from one's parents by genetic transmission.