[in.her.it] vb [ME enheriten to make one an heir, inherit, fr. MF enheriter to make one an heir, fr. LL inhereditare, fr. L in- + hereditas inheritance--more at heredity] vt (14c) 1: to come into possession of or receive esp. as a right or divine portion "and every one who has left houses or brothers or sisters ... for my name's sake, will receive a hundredfold, and ~ eternal life --Mt 19:29 (RSV)"
2. a: to receive from an ancestor as a right or title descendible by law at the ancestor's death b: to receive as a devise or legacy
3: to receive from ancestors by genetic transmission "~ a strong constitution"
4: to have in turn or receive as if from an ancestor "~ed the problem from his predecessor" ~ vi: to take or hold a possession or rights by inheritance -- in.her.i.tor n -- in.her.i.tress or in.her.i.trix n