Heir Meaning
/ˈɛə̯/Definition, CEFR level B2, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
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Definition
nounSomeone who inherits, or is designated to inherit, the property of another.
nounOne who inherits, or has been designated to inherit, a hereditary title or office.
Sentence Examples
The rich merchant adopted the boy and made him his heir.
Which prince is the legitimate heir to the throne?
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms:
Antonyms:
None
CEFR Practice Quiz
As the only ____, he inherited the entire fortune.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The young prince is the only ____ to the throne, and he will become king very soon.
Word Origin & History
From Middle English heir, from Anglo-Norman eir, heir, from Latin hērēs.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"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]:
"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:
"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:
"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:
"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:
Explore More B2 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
As the only ____, he inherited the entire fortune.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The young prince is the only ____ to the throne, and he will become king very soon.