in·her·it ( n-h r t)v. in·her·it·ed, in·her·it·ing, in·her·its v.tr.1. a. To receive (property or a title, for example) from an ancestor by legal succession or will. b. To receive by bequest or as a legacy. 2. To receive or take over from a predecessor: The new administration inherited the economic problems of the last four years. 3. Biology To receive (a characteristic) from one's parents by genetic transmission. 4. To gain (something) as one's right or portion. v.intr. To hold or take possession of an inheritance.
[Middle English enheriten, from Old French enheriter, to make heir to, from Late Latin inh r dit re, to inherit : Latin in-, in; see in-2 + Late Latin h r dit re, to inherit (from Latin h r s, h r d-, heir; see gh - in Indo-European roots).]
in·her i·tor n. |
ThesaurusLegend: Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
| Adj. | 1. | inherited - occurring among members of a family usually by heredity; "an inherited disease"; "familial traits"; "genetically transmitted features"heritable, inheritable - capable of being inherited; "inheritable traits such as eye color"; "an inheritable title" |