hereditary

/həˈedəˌteɹi/hur-EH-duh-teh-ree

/hɚˈɛdəˌtɛɹi/hur-EH-duh-teh-ree

Meaningof an heir

Common meaning: passed down through families

heredan heirLewis & Short, Latin Dictionary (1879), p. 848 · scan
itpast-participle stem ending (from Latin -itum)
aryending: linked with, or a place for

Journey through time

Latinhērēs, hērēdis‘an heir’
Englishhereditary‘passed down through families’ · today

hered also in: heir inherit heritage

Sources & notes

Meaning: “Meaning” is the sense that emerges from the word’s roots; “Common meaning” is today’s everyday sense. Both written by us.

Pronunciation

UK IPA: converted from the US form by rule (unchecked). Respelling: generated.
No UK recording; the speaker uses your device’s en-GB voice.
US IPA: CMUdict (BSD-2), converted to IPA by rule. Respelling: generated.
No US recording; the speaker uses your device’s en-US voice.

Origin: Built on Latin hērēs ‘an heir’.

Did you know: our wording, based on Lewis & Short, Latin Dictionary (1879), entry hērēs, p. 848 · dictionary scan

Roots

hērēs, hērēdis Latin “an heir”

Related words

heir heritage inherit

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