ˈlevərə̇t, ˈlēv-, -ˌrāt noun
( -s )
Usage: often attributive
Etymology: Latin levir husband's brother + English -ate; akin to Old English tācor husband's brother, Old High German zeihhur, Greek daēr, Sanskrit devṛ
: the marriage of a widow by the brother or occasionally the heir of her deceased husband sometimes (as among the ancient Hebrews) constituting a compulsory custom — compare junior levirate , sororate
• levi·rat·ic | ̷ ̷ ̷ ̷|rad.ik adjective