[her.i.tage] n [ME, fr. MF, fr. heriter to inherit, fr. LL hereditare, fr. L hered-, heres heir--more at heir] (13c) 1: property that descends to an heir
2. a: something transmitted by or acquired from a predecessor: legacy, inheritance b: tradition
3: something possessed as a result of one's natural situation or birth: birthright "the nation's ~ of tolerance"