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Definition of Bequeath
1. Verb. Leave or give by will after one's death. "They bequeath them the money"; "My grandfather left me his entire estate"
Related verbs: Leave, Leave Behind, Give, Impart, Leave, Pass On
Generic synonyms: Gift, Give, Present
Specialized synonyms: Devise, Pass On, Remember, Entail, Fee-tail
Antonyms: Disinherit
Derivative terms: Will
Definition of Bequeath
1. v. t. To give or leave by will; to give by testament; -- said especially of personal property.
Definition of Bequeath
1. Verb. (legal) To give or leave by will; to give by testament; especially of personal property. ¹
2. Verb. To hand down; to transmit. ¹
3. Verb. To give; to offer; to commit. ¹
¹ Source: wiktionary.com
Definition of Bequeath
1. to grant by testament [v -ED, -ING, -S]
Medical Definition of Bequeath
1. 1. To give or leave by will; to give by testament; said especially of personal property. "My heritage, which my dead father did bequeath to me." (Shak) 2. To hand down; to transmit. "To bequeath posterity somewhat to remember it." (Glanvill) 3. To give; to offer; to commit. "To whom, with all submission, on my knee I do bequeath my faithful services And true subjection everlastingly." (Shak) Synonym: To Bequeath, Devise. Both these words denote the giving or disposing of property by will. Devise, in legal usage, is property used to denote a gift by will of real property, and he to whom it is given is called the devisee. Bequeath is properly applied to a gift by will or legacy; i. E, of personal property; the gift is called a legacy, and he who receives it is called a legatee. In popular usage the word bequeath is sometimes enlarged so as to embrace devise; and it is sometimes so construed by courts. Origin: OE. Biquethen, AS. Becwean to say, affirm, bequeath; pref. Be- + cwean to say, speak. See Quoth. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998)
Lexicographical Neighbors of Bequeath
Literary usage of Bequeath
Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:
1. Calendar of the Patent Rolls Preserved in the Public Record Office by Great Britain Public Record Office, Public Record Office, Great Britain (1900)
"Also I bequeath to Ralph, master of the house of St. Mark, for his chamber 101.,
... Also I bequeath to the fabric of the church of the same, 100*. ..."
2. United States Supreme Court Reportsby Lawyers Co-operative Publishing Company, United States Supreme Court by Lawyers Co-operative Publishing Company, United States Supreme Court (1882)
"will, after the usual introductory clause, the testator proceeds as follows: "item,
I give and bequeath unto my beloved sister, Rebecca, £100, ..."
3. Proceedings of the American Antiquarian Society by American Antiquarian Society (1905)
"(being) of sound mind and sane memory do make my testament in this manner IN the
first place I bequeath my soul to the omnipotent god the blessed virgin ..."
4. The Biography and Typography of William Caxton: England's First Printer by William Blades (1882)
"... I pounds Also I bequeath to Robert Dedes my apprentice xx marks Also I bequeath
to Christopher my apprentice xx pounds Also I bequeath to William Caxton ..."
5. History of England from the Fall of Wolsey to the Death of Elizabeth by James Anthony Froude (1862)
"I give and bequeath to my said mother-in-law a little salt of silver, a mazer,
... 1 give and bequeath to Joan Willy am s, their daughter, to her marriage, ..."
6. Memoirs of Rev. George Whitefield by John Gillies, George Whitefield (1839)
"I give and bequeath to my dearly beloved friend, the Honorable James Habersham
aforesaid, my late wife's gold watch, and 101. for mourning; to my dear old ..."