English edit

Etymology edit

From Latin hērēditārius, from hērēditās (inheritance), from hērēs (heir).

Pronunciation edit

Adjective edit

hereditary (comparative more hereditary, superlative most hereditary)

  1. Passed on as an inheritance, by last will or intestate.
  2. Of a title, honor or right: legally granted to somebody's descendant after that person's death.
    Duke is a hereditary title which was created in Norman times.
  3. Of a person: holding a legally hereditary title or rank.
    hereditary rulers
  4. Of a disease or trait: passed from a parent to offspring in the genes.
    Haemophilia is hereditary in his family.
  5. (mathematics) Of a ring: such that all submodules of projective modules over the ring are also projective.

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Translations edit

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Noun edit

hereditary (plural hereditaries)

  1. A hereditary ruler; a hereditary peer in the House of Lords.

See also edit

Anagrams edit