lev·i·rate (l v  r- t, --r t , l vr-t, -v-rt)n. The practice of marrying the widow of one's childless brother to maintain his line, as required by ancient Hebrew law. [From Latin l vir, husband's brother; see daiwer- in Indo-European roots.]lev i·ratic (-r tk), levi·rati·cal adj. |
levirate [ˈlɛvɪrɪt]
n
(Christian Religious Writings / Bible) the practice, required by Old Testament law, of marrying the widow of one's brother
[from Latin lēvir a husband's brother]
leviratic [ˌlɛvɪˈrætɪk], leviratical adj
levirate
the custom under the Mosaic code (Deut. xxv: 5-10) that required a widow to marry her dead husband’s brother if she had no sons. — levirate, leviratical, adj.
See also: Judaism
ThesaurusLegend: Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
| Noun | 1. | levirate - the biblical institution whereby a man must marry the widow of his childless brother in order to maintain the brother's line institution - a custom that for a long time has been an important feature of some group or society; "the institution of marriage"; "the institution of slavery"; "he had become an institution in the theater" |
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