PRIMOGENITURE Meaning and
Definition
-
Primogeniture is a legal term within the scope of inheritance and succession. Derived from Latin, it means "first-born." Primogeniture refers to a system of inheritance where the eldest male child or, in some cases, the eldest child regardless of gender, is entitled to inherit the entirety of their parent's estate or properties upon their death, particularly within noble or aristocratic families. This practice is prevalent in traditional European hereditary monarchies and societies where the eldest son is granted a privileged status.
Under primogeniture, the eldest child automatically ascends to heirship by birthright, irrespective of their personal qualities or characteristics. This principle ensures the continuity of a family's wealth, titles, and power within a particular lineage, often while excluding younger siblings from an inheritance. As a result, primogeniture often perpetuates social inequality and concentrates wealth, as ancestral properties and economic resources remain consolidated in the hands of a single individual through successive generations.
However, it is notable that primogeniture is not universally practiced or legally required in modern times. Many countries have abandoned or modified this system, recognizing the importance of gender equality and individual rights, whereby a more egalitarian form of inheritance called equal division has been implemented. Equal division ensures that assets are divided equally among all legitimate children or descendants, disregarding age or gender. This has contributed to a more democratic distribution of wealth and property within families across societies that have adopted such reforms.
-
The right which belongs to the eldest son and his heir to succeed to property or to an estate.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
Common Misspellings for PRIMOGENITURE
- orimogeniture
- lrimogeniture
- -rimogeniture
- 0rimogeniture
- peimogeniture
- pdimogeniture
- pfimogeniture
- ptimogeniture
- p5imogeniture
- p4imogeniture
- prumogeniture
- prjmogeniture
- prkmogeniture
- promogeniture
- pr9mogeniture
- pr8mogeniture
- prinogeniture
- prikogeniture
- prijogeniture
- prymogeniture
- Primeniture
- Primogenetur
- Primageniture
Etymology of PRIMOGENITURE
The word primogeniture is derived from Latin roots. It comes from the combination of two Latin words: primo, meaning first, and genitura, meaning birth. Primogenitura in Latin referred to the system or practice that gave the first-born child (usually the eldest son) the right to inherit the entire estate or title of the family. Over time, the word was adopted into the English language, becoming primogeniture.
Similar spelling word for PRIMOGENITURE
Infographic
Add the infographic to your website:
