inherit
UK[ɪnˈherɪt]US[ɪnˈherɪt]
v
To receive money, property, or a title from someone after they have died.
v
To have a particular quality, physical feature, or problem because your parents or ancestors had it.
v
To be left with a situation, problem, or duty that previously existed or belonged to someone else.
Morpheme Breakdown
in
herit
in
in, into, on, upon
herit
Etymology
The word 'inherit' has a clear legal and biological lineage. It entered Middle English from the Old French 'enheriter', which itself was built upon the Latin verb inhereditare, meaning "to appoint as an heir". This Latin term is a compound of the prefix in- ("in, into") and the noun heres, heredis ("heir"). The core logic is that of coming into the status or possessions of an heir. Over time, the meaning expanded from the strictly legal context of receiving property to encompass the biological reception of genetic traits and the metaphorical reception of situations or problems from a predecessor.
Analysis
Structure: in + herit
- in- (Latin): A prefix meaning "in, into, on, upon".
- herit (Latin): From the Latin root hērēd-, hērēs, meaning "heir".
Examples
She inherited a large fortune from her grandfather.
He inherited his father's blue eyes and his mother's artistic talent.
The new government inherited a massive economic crisis from the previous administration.