- primogeniture
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pri·mo·gen·i·ture /ˌprī-mō-'je-nə-ˌchu̇r/ n1: the state of being the firstborn of the children of the same parents2: exclusive right of inheritance; specif: a right to take all the real property of an estate belonging under English law to the eldest son or eldest male in the next degree of consanguinity if there is no son of an ancestor to the exclusion of all female and younger male descendants
Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary of Law. Merriam-Webster. 1996.
- primogeniture
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n.(1) The condition of being a firstborn child.(2) The right of succession that belongs to a firstborn child; in feudal times, the eldest son’s right to inherit the entire estate of his father, leaving nothing for younger sons.
The Essential Law Dictionary. — Sphinx Publishing, An imprint of Sourcebooks, Inc. Amy Hackney Blackwell. 2008.
- primogeniture
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being first-born. Many legal systems have from time to time and place to place given precedence to the first-born in inheritance. It has the benefit of preserving large hard-won estates. It is not popular with the other children. Concentration of wealth in money as opposed to land has made it much less useful. It no longer applies to ordinary property in the UK.
Collins dictionary of law. W. J. Stewart. 2001.
- primogeniture
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Latin for "first born." Feudal England (and many other places) practiced male primogeniture, the practice of giving the oldest son the entire estate of his parents (or nearest ancestor). If there was no male heir, the daughters inherited the property in equal shares.The intent was to preserve large properties from being broken up into small holdings, which might weaken the power of nobles.Category: Wills, Trusts & Estates → Wills
Nolo’s Plain-English Law Dictionary. Gerald N. Hill, Kathleen Thompson Hill. 2009.
- primogeniture
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n. Latin First born. An ancient rule of descent by which the firstborn son inherits all the property of his deceased father, usually to the exclusion of all his siblings. The purpose of primogeniture was to keep the estate (real property), the ownership of which implied power, from being subdivided into smaller and smaller parcels of land.
Webster's New World Law Dictionary. Susan Ellis Wild. 2000.
- primogeniture
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The status of being the firstborn child among several children of the same parents.A rule of inheritance at common law through which the oldest male child has the right to succeed to the estate of an ancestor to the exclusion of younger siblings, both male and female, as well as other relatives.
Dictionary from West's Encyclopedia of American Law. 2005.
- primogeniture
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The status of being the firstborn child among several children of the same parents.A rule of inheritance at common law through which the oldest male child has the right to succeed to the estate of an ancestor to the exclusion of younger siblings, both male and female, as well as other relatives.
Short Dictionary of (mostly American) Legal Terms and Abbreviations.
- primogeniture
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n.from Latin for "first born," the ancient rule from feudal England (except in the County of Kent) that the oldest son would inherit the entire estate of his parents (or nearest ancestor), and, if there was no male heir, the daughters would take (receive the property) in equal shares. The intent was to preserve larger properties from being broken up into small holdings, which might weaken the power of nobles. It does not exist in the United States.
Law dictionary. EdwART. 2013.
