/in her"i teuhns/ , n.
1. something that is or may be inherited; property passing at the owner's death to the heir or those entitled to succeed; legacy.
2. the genetic characters transmitted from parent to offspring, taken collectively.
3. something, as a quality, characteristic, or other immaterial possession, received from progenitors or predecessors as if by succession: an inheritance of family pride.
4. the act or fact of inheriting by succession, as if by succession, or genetically: to receive property by inheritance.
5. portion; birthright; heritage: Absolute rule was considered the inheritance of kings.
6. Obs. right of possession; ownership.
[ 1375-1425; ME enheritance ]
Syn. 1. patrimony; bequest. INHERITANCE, HERITAGE denote something inherited. INHERITANCE is the common term for property or any possession that comes to an heir: He received the farm as an inheritance from his parents. HERITAGE indicates something that is bequeathed to a subsequent generation by an individual or by society: our cultural heritage from Greece and Rome.