heritage

== English == === Alternative forms === hæritage (archaic) === Etymology === From Middle English heritage, from Old French eritage, heritage (modern French héritage), ultimately derived (through suffixation) from Latin hērēs. By surface analysis, herit +‎ -age. === Pronunciation === IPA(key): /ˈhɛɹ.ɪ.tɪd͡ʒ/ Hyphenation: her‧i‧tage === Noun === heritage (countable and uncountable, plural heritages) An inheritance; property that may be inherited. A tradition; a practice or set of values that is passed down from preceding generations through families or through institutional memory. A birthright; the status acquired by birth, especially of but not exclusive to the firstborn. (attributive) Having a certain background, such as growing up with a second language. ==== Derived terms ==== ==== Related terms ==== See heir ==== Translations ==== ==== See also ==== (agriculture): heirloom, landrace === References === == Middle English == === Alternative forms === eritage, erytage, herytage, hiritage, hirritage heretage (Late Middle English) === Etymology === Borrowed from Old French eritage, heritage; equivalent to heriten +‎ -age. === Pronunciation === IPA(key): /ɛriˈtaːd͡ʒ(ə)/, /iriˈtaːd͡ʒ(ə)/ === Noun === heritage (uncountable) An inheritance; that subject to inheritance: (figurative) One's assigned or bequeathed position in Heaven or Hell. (figurative, rare) The Christian people as God's inheritance. (by extension) That inherited from one's ancestors; heritage. Inheritance; the familial transmission of property or disease. (rare) A present or gift. (rare) One's inheritors or successors. ==== Descendants ==== English: heritage Middle Scots: heritage, heretage ==== References ==== “heritāǧe, n.”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007. == Middle French == === Alternative forms === heritaige eritage, hiretage, iretage (less common) === Etymology === Inherited from Old French eritage; equivalent to heriter +‎ -age. === Noun === heritage m (plural heritages) An inheritance or heritage; that subject to inheritance. Inheritance; the familial transmission of property. Perpetual possession, possession allowing for inheritance. ==== Related terms ==== heritier ==== Descendants ==== French: héritage == Old French == === Noun === heritage oblique singular, m (oblique plural heritages, nominative singular heritages, nominative plural heritage) alternative form of eritage