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heir

SayAIR/ɛɚ/UK/ɛə/

Pluralheirs

Verbheirs, heiring, heired

3 meanings of heir

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  1. 1
    next in linenouncountable
    A person who gets, or will get, someone's money, property or title when that person dies.

    My aunt left me her farm because I was her only heir.

    Grandpa's will names his three grandchildren as his heirs.

    Note
  2. 2
    successornouncountable
    A person who takes over a role from someone and keeps their work or style going.

    Fans call the young player the heir to the team's greatest captain.

    The old dance teacher hoped one student would become her heir and teach the way she did.

    Similarsuccessor

    Note
  3. 3
    verbarchaictransitive or intransitive
    To get money, land, or other things from someone after they die.

    Similarinherit

    Note

Practice

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Origin

From Middle English, which took it from Anglo-Norman French. The word goes back to Latin hērēs.