escheat

== English == === Etymology === From Middle English eschete, from Anglo-Norman escheat, Old French eschet, escheit, escheoit (“that which falls to one”), from the past participle of escheoir (“to fall”), from Vulgar Latin *excadēre, from Latin ex + cadere (“fall”). === Pronunciation === IPA(key): /ɪsˈt͡ʃiːt/ Rhymes: -iːt === Noun === escheat (countable and uncountable, plural escheats) (law) The return of property of a deceased person to the state (originally to a feudal lord) where there are no legal heirs or claimants. (law) The property so reverted. (obsolete) Plunder, booty. That which falls to one; a reversion or return. ==== Quotations ==== For quotations using this term, see Citations:escheat. ==== Translations ==== === Verb === escheat (third-person singular simple present escheats, present participle escheating, simple past and past participle escheated) (transitive) To put (land, property) in escheat; to confiscate. (intransitive) To revert to a state or lord because its previous owner died without an heir. ==== Related terms ==== escheatery escheator escheatment ==== Translations ==== === Derived terms === === Anagrams === cheetas, eatches, ceaseth, teaches