Adjacent Words

Disinherit definitions

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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

DISINHERIT, v.t. [dis and inherit.] To cut off from hereditary right; to deprive of an inheritance; to prevent as an heir from coming into possession of any property or right, which, by law or custom, would devolve on him in the course of descent. A father sometimes disinherits his children by will. In England, the crown is descendible to the eldest son, who cannot be disinherited by the will of his father.

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

v
1: prevent deliberately (as by making a will) from inheriting [syn: disinherit, disown] [ant: bequeath, leave, will]

Merriam Webster's

transitive verb Etymology: Middle English Date: 15th century 1. to prevent deliberately from inheriting something (as by making a will) 2. to deprive of natural or human rights or of previously held special privileges • disinheritance noun

Oxford Reference Dictionary

v.tr. (disinherited, disinheriting) reject as one's heir; deprive of the right of inheritance. Derivatives: disinheritance n. Etymology: ME f. DIS- + INHERIT in obs. sense 'make heir'

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Disinherit Dis`in*her"it, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Disinherited; p. pr. & vb. n. Disinheriting.] [Cf. Disherit, Disheir.] 1. To cut off from an inheritance or from hereditary succession; to prevent, as an heir, from coming into possession of any property or right, which, by law or custom, would devolve on him in the course of descent. Of how fair a portion Adam disinherited his whole posterity! --South. 2. To deprive of heritage; to dispossess. And disinherit Chaos, that reigns here. --Milton.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

(disinherits, disinheriting, disinherited) If you disinherit someone such as your son or daughter, you arrange that they will not become the owner of your money and property after your death, usually because they have done something that you do not approve of. He threatened to disinherit her if she refused to obey. VERB: V n