PRIMOGENITURE


Meaning of PRIMOGENITURE in English

n.

Preference in inheritance that is given by law or custom to the eldest son and his issue.

The motivation for such a practice has usually been to keep the estate of the deceased, or some part of it, whole and intact, and to acknowledge the importance of age-seniority within the social hierarchy. It is no longer a recognized principle of inheritance in most jurisdictions.

Britannica Concise Encyclopedia.      Краткая энциклопедия Британика.