HEREDITARY

adjective Etymology: Middle English hereditarie, from Latin hereditarius, from hereditas Date: 15th century 1. genetically transmitted or transmittable from parent to offspring, characteristic of or fostered by one's predecessors, 2. received or passing by inheritance or required to pass by inheritance or by reason of birth, having title or possession through inheritance or by reason of birth, of a kind established by tradition , of or relating to inheritance or heredity, see: innate hereditarily adverb