/ ɪnˈherɪtəns; NAmE / noun
1.
[ C , usually sing. , U ] the money, property, etc. that you receive from sb when they die; the fact of receiving sth when sb dies :
She spent all her inheritance in a year.
The title passes by inheritance to the eldest son.
2.
[ U , C ] something from the past or from your family that affects the way you behave, look, etc. :
our cultural inheritance
Physical characteristics are determined by genetic inheritance.
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WORD ORIGIN
late Middle English (formerly also as enheritance ): from Anglo-Norman French enheritaunce being admitted as heir, from Old French enheriter , from late Latin inhereditare appoint as heir, from Latin in- in + heres , hered- heir.