ENGLISH
REFERENCE

inherit

v.
B2 Upper Intermediate Oxford US //ˌɪnˈhɛɹət// UK //ɪnhˈɛɹɪt// in·her·it Archaic General-service

v. to receive money, property, or a title from someone after they die. It can also mean getting physical features, like eye color, from your parents through your genes.

v. to receive property, rank, or money by legal succession or will; in a biological context, to derive genetically from one's progenitors. Transitive in most contexts, though it can function intransitively when the object is implied.


SIMPLE

She will inherit the family business next year.

CONTEXTUAL

Many children inherit their musical talent or athletic ability from their parents through a mix of genetics and environment.

COMPLEX

Upon the sudden passing of the patriarch, the eldest daughter was set to inherit not only the vast estate but also the complex political alliances he had spent decades cultivating.

Origin

From Middle English enheriten, from Old French enheriter, from Late Latin inhereditare (“make heir”). Displaced native Old English ierfan.

Usage

The verb is transitive and typically takes a direct object representing the asset or trait received.

Pitfall

She inherited from her father a house.She inherited a house from her father.The direct object should follow the verb immediately before the prepositional phrase.

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