heir en · NOUN
Pronunciation
- /ˈeː/ (Australia)
- /ˈe̝ə̯/ without the cheer–chair merger
- /ˈɛː/ (General-South-African)
- /ˈiə̯/ cheer–chair merger
- /ˈeɹ/ (Scotland)
- [ˈɜː] Lancashire, fair–fur merger
- [ˈeɹ] (Scotland)
- [ˈɛɚ] ~ [ˈɛɹ̩]
- (US) audio
- /ˈɛə̯/ (Received-Pronunciation)
- [ˈe̝ə̯] without the cheer–chair merger
- [ˈiə̯] cheer–chair merger
- /ˈɜː/ Lancashire, fair–fur merger
- [ˈeː] (Australia)
- [ˈɛː] (General-South-African)
- [ˈɛə̯] (Received-Pronunciation)
- /ˈɛɚ/
Etymology
From Middle English heir, from Anglo-Norman eir, heir, from Latin hērēs.
Meanings
-
Someone who inherits, or is designated to inherit, the property of another.
And no use for anyone to tell Charles that this was because the Family was in mourning for Mr Granville Darracott […]: Charles might only have been second footman at Darracott Place for a couple of months when that disaster occurred, but no one could gammon him into thinking that my lord cared a spangle for his heir.
1959, Georgette Heyer, chapter 1, in The Unknown Ajax:I am my father's heir and only son.
c. 1590–1592 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Taming of the Shrew”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act II, scene i]:My brother is the heir to our childhood house and yet has no interest in it.
In ancient Greece, the Spartans developed rules that consolidated property into a narrow class of heirs, while the growing population of people left behind were reclassified as hypomeiones—inferiors.
2023 January 16, Evan Osnos, “The Getty Family’s Trust Issues”, in The New Yorker, New York, N.Y.: Condé Nast Publications, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 16 Sep 2023:As to eleemoſynary corporations, by the dotation the founder and his heirs are of common right the legal viſitors, to ſee that that property is rightly employed, which would otherwiſe have deſcended to the viſitor himſelf: […]
1765, William Blackstone, “Of Corporations”, in Commentaries on the Laws of England, book I (Of the Rights of Persons), Oxford, Oxfordshire: […] Clarendon Press, →OCLC, page 469:
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One who inherits, or has been designated to inherit, a hereditary title or office.
Vittorio Emanuele, the Italian throne's last heir, was apprehended in 1978 after a teen died from a gunshot on an exclusive island.
2023 July 4, Lucy Mangan, “The King Who Never Was review – the gripping tale of the first royal to be arrested 'since Marie Antoinette'”, in Katharine Viner, editor, The Guardian, London: Guardian News & Media, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 06 Aug 2023:Now, after the death of Queen Elizabeth II, William, 40, is the Prince of Wales and the heir to the British throne.
2022 September 16, Megan Specia, “Prince William Moves Into the Spotlight as Heir to the Throne”, in The New York Times, New York, N.Y.: The New York Times Company, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 30 Apr 2023:As the heir to the British throne, the Prince of Wales is a very public figure.
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A successor in a role, representing continuity with the predecessor.
"I wish we were back in Tenth Street. But so many children came[…]and the Tenth Street house wasn't half big enough; and a dreadful speculative builder built this house and persuaded Austin to buy it. Oh, dear, and here we are among the rich and great; and the steel kings and copper kings and oil kings and their heirs and dauphins.[…]"
1907 August, Robert W[illiam] Chambers, chapter I, in The Younger Set, New York, N.Y.: D. Appleton & Company, →OCLC:India is run by gerontocrats and epigones: grey hairs and groomed heirs.
2013 May 11, “What a waste”, in The Economist, volume 407, number 8835, London: The Economist Group, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 27 Jul 2023, page 12:And I his heir in misery alone.
1725, Homer, “Book I”, in [Elijah Fenton], transl., The Odyssey of Homer. […], volume I, London: […] Bernard Lintot, →OCLC:Sergeant Schlock has no horse, no armor, and no sword, but even the mightiest Mongol horse-warrior would see in him a fit heir.
2015 February 1, Howard Tayler, Schlock Mercenary, archived from the original on 14 May 2024:
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| heire | alternative, obsolete | lexicographic | |
| heirs | Number=Plur | lexicographic |
Coordinates
Deriveds
inherit · service of an heir · heir of the body · inheritor · heritage · heir portioner · legal heir · heir general · inheritance · heir-loom · laughing heir statute · pretermitted heir · heir at law · unheired · heir-at-law · heirhead · heirloom · heir by custom · heirdom · statutory heir · laughing heir · hereditary · heirhood · heirless · coheir · heir apparent · heir of the line · heiress · disheir · heir apparency · heirship · forced heir · heir presumptive
Synonyms
inheritor · aftercomer · heir · successour · succeeder · beneficiary · inheritor · successor
Translations (231)
ru прее́мница (successor in a role) · sh на́сљедница (one who inherits, or is designated to inherit, the property of another) · id pewaris (one who inherits, or is designated to inherit, the property of another) · es sucesor (successor in a role) · mi kaiwhakakapi (one who inherits, or has been designated to inherit, a hereditary title or office) · sq trashëgimtar (one who inherits, or is designated to inherit, the property of another) · uk спадкоє́миця (one who inherits, or is designated to inherit, the property of another) · ps وارث (one who inherits, or is designated to inherit, the property of another) · ky мураскор (one who inherits, or is designated to inherit, the property of another) · ary ورتة (one who inherits, or is designated to inherit, the property of another) · sl dedič (one who inherits, or is designated to inherit, the property of another) · egy E9-w-a-w-A1 (one who inherits, or is designated to inherit, the property of another) · ca hereu (one who inherits, or has been designated to inherit, a hereditary title or office) · cs nástupce (successor in a role) · fr héritière (successor in a role) · cy aer (one who inherits, or has been designated to inherit, a hereditary title or office) · he יורשת (successor in a role) · eu jaraunsle (one who inherits, or is designated to inherit, the property of another) · nl erfgename (one who inherits, or is designated to inherit, the property of another) · ro moștenitor (successor in a role) · ar وَارِثَة (one who inherits, or is designated to inherit, the property of another) · de Erbin (one who inherits, or is designated to inherit, the property of another) · gd oighre (one who inherits, or is designated to inherit, the property of another) · oc eiretièr (one who inherits, or is designated to inherit, the property of another) · de Erbe (one who inherits, or is designated to inherit, the property of another) · eu oinordeko (one who inherits, or is designated to inherit, the property of another) · bg насле́дник (one who inherits, or is designated to inherit, the property of another) · ar وَارِث (one who inherits, or has been designated to inherit, a hereditary title or office) · ga beangán (one who inherits, or has been designated to inherit, a hereditary title or office) · cy aerod (one who inherits, or is designated to inherit, the property of another) · ja 継承者 (successor in a role) · sk dedička (one who inherits, or has been designated to inherit, a hereditary title or office) · lt paveldėtoja (one who inherits, or is designated to inherit, the property of another) · cmn 繼承者 /继承者 (one who inherits, or is designated to inherit, the property of another) · gl herdeiro (successor in a role) · hi उत्तराधिकारी (successor in a role) · wa eritresse (one who inherits, or is designated to inherit, the property of another) · pt sucessor (successor in a role) · tg ворис (one who inherits, or is designated to inherit, the property of another) · nl opvolger (one who inherits, or has been designated to inherit, a hereditary title or office) · ja 相続人 (one who inherits, or is designated to inherit, the property of another) · tt варис (one who inherits, or is designated to inherit, the property of another) · ms pewaris (one who inherits, or is designated to inherit, the property of another) · es heredero (one who inherits, or is designated to inherit, the property of another) · fr héritière (one who inherits, or has been designated to inherit, a hereditary title or office) · it erede (successor in a role) · fi vallanperijä (one who inherits, or has been designated to inherit, a hereditary title or office) · uk наслі́дник (one who inherits, or is designated to inherit, the property of another) · ro moștenitor (one who inherits, or has been designated to inherit, a hereditary title or office) · ar وَارِث (one who inherits, or is designated to inherit, the property of another) · nb arving (one who inherits, or is designated to inherit, the property of another) · bg насле́дник (one who inherits, or has been designated to inherit, a hereditary title or office) · da arving (one who inherits, or is designated to inherit, the property of another) · sw mrithi (one who inherits, or has been designated to inherit, a hereditary title or office) · zlw-ocs erb (one who inherits, or is designated to inherit, the property of another) · ext hereeru (one who inherits, or is designated to inherit, the property of another) · mi kairīwhi (one who inherits, or is designated to inherit, the property of another) · it erede (one who inherits, or is designated to inherit, the property of another) · ga oidhre (one who inherits, or is designated to inherit, the property of another) · gl heree (one who inherits, or is designated to inherit, the property of another) · ceb manununod (one who inherits, or is designated to inherit, the property of another) · mi whākapi (one who inherits, or has been designated to inherit, a hereditary title or office) · sh на́следнӣк (one who inherits, or is designated to inherit, the property of another) · mi kawa (successor in a role) · sk dedička (one who inherits, or is designated to inherit, the property of another) · ro succesor (successor in a role) · got 𐌰𐍂𐌱𐌾𐍉 (one who inherits, or is designated to inherit, the property of another) · pl sukcesor (one who inherits, or is designated to inherit, the property of another) · mi whākapi (one who inherits, or is designated to inherit, the property of another) · ast herederu (one who inherits, or is designated to inherit, the property of another) · sv arvinge (one who inherits, or is designated to inherit, the property of another) · ar وَرِيث (one who inherits, or has been designated to inherit, a hereditary title or office) · pt herdeiro (one who inherits, or is designated to inherit, the property of another) · uk наслі́дниця (one who inherits, or is designated to inherit, the property of another) · fi perijä (one who inherits, or is designated to inherit, the property of another) · es heredero (one who inherits, or has been designated to inherit, a hereditary title or office) · kmr wêris (one who inherits, or is designated to inherit, the property of another) · gl sucesor (successor in a role) · cs dědička (one who inherits, or is designated to inherit, the property of another) · ky мурасчы (one who inherits, or is designated to inherit, the property of another) · got 𐌰𐍂𐌱𐌾𐌰 (one who inherits, or is designated to inherit, the property of another) · cy aerod (one who inherits, or has been designated to inherit, a hereditary title or office) · pdt Oaw (one who inherits, or is designated to inherit, the property of another) · ja 跡取り (one who inherits, or is designated to inherit, the property of another) · sk nástupkyňa (successor in a role) · fr héritier (one who inherits, or has been designated to inherit, a hereditary title or office) · it ereditiera (one who inherits, or is designated to inherit, the property of another) · pl dziedzic (one who inherits, or is designated to inherit, the property of another) · tl tagapagmana (one who inherits, or is designated to inherit, the property of another) · he יוֹרֵשׁ (successor in a role) · pl następczyni (successor in a role) · ko 계승자 (one who inherits, or is designated to inherit, the property of another) · ro moștenitoare (successor in a role) · he יוֹרֵשׁ (one who inherits, or has been designated to inherit, a hereditary title or office) · sv arvtagerska (one who inherits, or is designated to inherit, the property of another) · ko 계승자 (one who inherits, or has been designated to inherit, a hereditary title or office) · ro moștenitor (one who inherits, or is designated to inherit, the property of another) · mi kaiwhakakapi (successor in a role) · ms waris (one who inherits, or is designated to inherit, the property of another) · dsb derbnik (one who inherits, or is designated to inherit, the property of another) · lo ທາຍາດ (one who inherits, or is designated to inherit, the property of another) · ga oidhre (one who inherits, or has been designated to inherit, a hereditary title or office) · tr mirasçı (one who inherits, or is designated to inherit, the property of another) · mk наследник (one who inherits, or is designated to inherit, the property of another) · sh násljednīk (one who inherits, or is designated to inherit, the property of another) · cs dědic (one who inherits, or has been designated to inherit, a hereditary title or office) · pl spadkobierca (one who inherits, or is designated to inherit, the property of another) · cmn 儲 /储 (one who inherits, or has been designated to inherit, a hereditary title or office) · ru прее́мник (one who inherits, or has been designated to inherit, a hereditary title or office) · bg насле́дничка (one who inherits, or is designated to inherit, the property of another) · fi perillinen (one who inherits, or has been designated to inherit, a hereditary title or office) · ar وَرِيث (one who inherits, or is designated to inherit, the property of another) · ur وارث (one who inherits, or is designated to inherit, the property of another) · bg насле́дничка (one who inherits, or has been designated to inherit, a hereditary title or office) · he יורשת (one who inherits, or is designated to inherit, the property of another) · ca hereu (one who inherits, or is designated to inherit, the property of another) · uz voris (one who inherits, or is designated to inherit, the property of another) · tr vâris (one who inherits, or is designated to inherit, the property of another) · gl herdeiro (one who inherits, or has been designated to inherit, a hereditary title or office) · nl opvolgster (successor in a role) · arz وارس (one who inherits, or is designated to inherit, the property of another) · uga 𐎐𐎈𐎍 (one who inherits, or is designated to inherit, the property of another) · el διάδοχος (successor in a role) · he יורשת (one who inherits, or has been designated to inherit, a hereditary title or office) · nl erfgenaam (one who inherits, or is designated to inherit, the property of another) · pl następczyni (one who inherits, or has been designated to inherit, a hereditary title or office) · ko 상속인 (one who inherits, or is designated to inherit, the property of another) · ja 継承者 (one who inherits, or is designated to inherit, the property of another) · grc κληρονόμος (one who inherits, or is designated to inherit, the property of another) · eu oinorde (one who inherits, or is designated to inherit, the property of another) · es cabalero (one who inherits, or is designated to inherit, the property of another) · sk dedič (one who inherits, or is designated to inherit, the property of another) · uk спадкоє́мець (one who inherits, or is designated to inherit, the property of another) · hy ժառանգ (one who inherits, or is designated to inherit, the property of another) · it erede (one who inherits, or has been designated to inherit, a hereditary title or office) · pms erede (one who inherits, or is designated to inherit, the property of another) · fa وارث (one who inherits, or is designated to inherit, the property of another) · kea erderu (one who inherits, or is designated to inherit, the property of another) · ru насле́дник (one who inherits, or is designated to inherit, the property of another) · cs dědička (one who inherits, or has been designated to inherit, a hereditary title or office) · mi kaiwhakakapi (one who inherits, or is designated to inherit, the property of another) · gd oighre (one who inherits, or has been designated to inherit, a hereditary title or office) · sw mrithi (one who inherits, or is designated to inherit, the property of another) · ru прее́мник (successor in a role) · sv arvinge (one who inherits, or has been designated to inherit, a hereditary title or office) · mk наследничка (one who inherits, or is designated to inherit, the property of another) · grc κληρόνομος (one who inherits, or has been designated to inherit, a hereditary title or office) · cs nástupkyně (successor in a role) · ru прее́мница (one who inherits, or has been designated to inherit, a hereditary title or office) · fi seuraaja (successor in a role) · pl następca (one who inherits, or has been designated to inherit, a hereditary title or office) · is erfingi (one who inherits, or is designated to inherit, the property of another) · nl opvolgster (one who inherits, or has been designated to inherit, a hereditary title or office) · an hereu (one who inherits, or is designated to inherit, the property of another) · fi manttelinperijä (successor in a role) · ug ۋارىس (one who inherits, or is designated to inherit, the property of another) · de Thronerbe (one who inherits, or has been designated to inherit, a hereditary title or office) · ro succesoare (successor in a role) · vi người thừa kế (one who inherits, or is designated to inherit, the property of another) · cmn 繼承人 /继承人 (one who inherits, or is designated to inherit, the property of another) · ang ierfa (one who inherits, or is designated to inherit, the property of another) · pl sukcesorka (one who inherits, or has been designated to inherit, a hereditary title or office) · hrx Erreb (one who inherits, or is designated to inherit, the property of another) · kk мұрагер (one who inherits, or is designated to inherit, the property of another) · nl opvolger (successor in a role) · lv mantiniece (one who inherits, or is designated to inherit, the property of another) · ro moștenitoare (one who inherits, or has been designated to inherit, a hereditary title or office) · th ผู้สืบทอด (successor in a role) · hi उत्तराधिकारी (one who inherits, or has been designated to inherit, a hereditary title or office) · pt herdeiro (one who inherits, or has been designated to inherit, a hereditary title or office) · it successore (successor in a role) · gl herdeiro (one who inherits, or is designated to inherit, the property of another) · sh následnīk (one who inherits, or is designated to inherit, the property of another) · pl spadkobierczyni (one who inherits, or is designated to inherit, the property of another) · cs dědic (one who inherits, or is designated to inherit, the property of another) · lv mantinieks (one who inherits, or is designated to inherit, the property of another) · ro moștenitoare (one who inherits, or is designated to inherit, the property of another) · sl dedinja (one who inherits, or is designated to inherit, the property of another) · fr héritier (one who inherits, or is designated to inherit, the property of another) · cy etifedd (one who inherits, or is designated to inherit, the property of another) · hu örökös (one who inherits, or has been designated to inherit, a hereditary title or office) · hu örökös (one who inherits, or is designated to inherit, the property of another) · az varis (one who inherits, or is designated to inherit, the property of another) · ru насле́дница (one who inherits, or is designated to inherit, the property of another) · la hērēs (one who inherits, or is designated to inherit, the property of another) · et pärija (one who inherits, or is designated to inherit, the property of another) · sh násljednica (one who inherits, or is designated to inherit, the property of another) · fr successeuse (one who inherits, or is designated to inherit, the property of another) · th ทายาท (one who inherits, or is designated to inherit, the property of another) · ca hereter (one who inherits, or is designated to inherit, the property of another) · sk nástupca (successor in a role) · pl dziedziczka (one who inherits, or is designated to inherit, the property of another) · sv arvtagare (one who inherits, or is designated to inherit, the property of another) · ka მემკვიდრე (one who inherits, or is designated to inherit, the property of another) · csb dzedzéc (one who inherits, or is designated to inherit, the property of another) · uz merosxoʻr (one who inherits, or is designated to inherit, the property of another) · el κληρονόμος (one who inherits, or is designated to inherit, the property of another) · mi whākapi (successor in a role) · cy aer (one who inherits, or is designated to inherit, the property of another) · be насле́днік (one who inherits, or is designated to inherit, the property of another) · kmr mîratgir (one who inherits, or is designated to inherit, the property of another) · he יוֹרֵשׁ (one who inherits, or is designated to inherit, the property of another) · gu વારસ (one who inherits, or is designated to inherit, the property of another) · fr héritière (one who inherits, or is designated to inherit, the property of another) · pl sukcesorka (one who inherits, or is designated to inherit, the property of another) · pl następca (successor in a role) · sh následnica (one who inherits, or is designated to inherit, the property of another) · sh на́следница (one who inherits, or is designated to inherit, the property of another) · pt herdeiro (successor in a role) · mba manonod (one who inherits, or is designated to inherit, the property of another) · pl sukcesor (one who inherits, or has been designated to inherit, a hereditary title or office) · eo heredanto (one who inherits, or is designated to inherit, the property of another) · fi perillinen (one who inherits, or is designated to inherit, the property of another) · fr successrice (one who inherits, or is designated to inherit, the property of another) · sh на́сљеднӣк (one who inherits, or is designated to inherit, the property of another) · fr successeur (one who inherits, or is designated to inherit, the property of another) · ja 継承者 (one who inherits, or has been designated to inherit, a hereditary title or office) · el κληρονόμος (one who inherits, or has been designated to inherit, a hereditary title or office) · th รัชทายาท (one who inherits, or has been designated to inherit, a hereditary title or office) · fr successeur (successor in a role) · fi kruununperillinen (one who inherits, or has been designated to inherit, a hereditary title or office) · wa eritî (one who inherits, or is designated to inherit, the property of another) · lt įpėdinis (one who inherits, or is designated to inherit, the property of another) · hu örökös (successor in a role) · sk dedič (one who inherits, or has been designated to inherit, a hereditary title or office) · ga beangán (one who inherits, or is designated to inherit, the property of another) · km ទាយាទ (one who inherits, or is designated to inherit, the property of another) · lt paveldėtojas (one who inherits, or is designated to inherit, the property of another) · hi उत्तराधिकारी (one who inherits, or is designated to inherit, the property of another) · be насле́дніца (one who inherits, or is designated to inherit, the property of another) · fr héritier (successor in a role)