n.
Pronunciation: ' her- ə -tij, ' he-r ə -
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French, from heriter to inherit, from Late Latin hereditare, from Latin hered-, heres heir ― more at HEIR
Date: 13th century
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 heritage of tolerance>