Primogeniture Definition

prīmō-jĕnĭ-cho͝or
noun
The condition or fact of being the firstborn of the same parents.
Webster's New World
The exclusive right of the eldest son to inherit his father's estate.
Webster's New World
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

Other Word Forms of Primogeniture

Noun

Singular:
primogeniture
Plural:
primogenitures

Origin of Primogeniture

  • Late Latin prīmōgenitūra Latin prīmō at first (from prīmus first per1 in Indo-European roots) Latin genitūra birth (from genitus) (past participle of gignere to beget genə- in Indo-European roots)

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

  • Late Latin primogenitura, from Latin primus + genitura birth, from genitus, past participle of gignere

    From Wiktionary

Primogeniture Sentence Examples

  • In 1639 inheritance by primogeniture was abolished, and this resulted in conflict with the British courts in the 18th century.

  • The principle of primogeniture was not introduced until the end of the 17th century, so that the Protestant Saxon dynasty, instead of building up a single compact kingdom for itself, has split into four petty duchies, of no political influence whatever.

  • The title was made; heritable in order of primogeniture, and in the case of archbishops through their nephews.

  • In Spain, on the other hand, the title of conde, the earlier history of which follows much the same development as in France, is still of much social value, mainly owing to the fact that the rule of primogeniture exists, and that, a large fee being payable to the state on succession to a title, it is necessarily associated with some degree of wealth.

  • The crown is hereditary in both the male and the female line according to primogeniture; but it is only in default of male heirs that females can come to the throne.

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Words Starting With

PPRPRI

Words Ending With

EREURE

Unscrambles

primogeniture

Words Starting With P and Ending With E

Starts With P & Ends With EStarts With PR & Ends With EStarts With P & Ends With RE

Word Length

13 Letter Words13 Letter Words Starting With P13 Letter Words Ending With E