primogeniture

noun

pri·mo·gen·i·ture ˌprī-mō-ˈje-nə-ˌchu̇r How to pronounce primogeniture (audio)

-chər,

-ˌtyu̇r,

-ˌtu̇r

: the state of being the firstborn of the children of the same parents

: an exclusive right of inheritance belonging to the eldest son

Did you know?

In many civilizations, past and present, the state of being the oldest among siblings is a key component of inheritance law. Primogeniture, which first appeared in English in the early 17th century, derives from the Late Latin prīmogenitūra, which itself comes from prīmogenitus, meaning "firstborn," a combination of the Latin prīmus ("first, earliest") and genitus ("birth"), from the past participle of gignere ("to beget"). For those who are youngest in birth order, a similar word applies—ultimogeniture—but this word is newer (first appearing in English in the late 19th century) and much less common.

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web Had her parents birthed a son, after her or her sister, Princess Margaret, male-preference primogeniture would have placed him as the next heir to the throne.

Essence, 8 Sep. 2022 His claim to the throne was also debated, coming down through his mother's side of the family (outside of the conventions of primogeniture).

Lauren Hubbard, Town & Country, 24 May 2022 But his Grandpa Cudahy also believed in primogeniture, the practice of the oldest son inheriting the family business.

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 14 Mar. 2022 In the nineteen-sixties, a legal battle took place, in secret, over the claim of a Scottish transgender man, Ewan Forbes, to a baronetcy title whose succession was determined by male primogeniture.

The New Yorker, 20 Dec. 2021 It was most recently amended in 2013 to end the system of male primogeniture, which automatically placed male heirs above their sisters in the line of succession.

Erin Hill, PEOPLE.com, 4 Dec. 2021 It was most recently amended in 2013 to end the system of male primogeniture, which automatically placed male heirs above their sisters in the line of succession.

Lanford Beard, PEOPLE.com, 20 Sep. 2021 It was most recently amended in 2013 to end the system of male primogeniture, which automatically placed male heirs above their sisters in the line of succession.

Lanford Beard, PEOPLE.com, 20 Sep. 2021 See More

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Middle French & Late Latin; Middle French, borrowed from Late Latin prīmogenitūra, from prīmogenitus "firstborn" (from Latin prīmus "first, earliest" + -o- -o- —for expected -i- -i- — + genitus, past participle of gignere "to bring into being, beget, give birth to") + Latin -ūra -ure — more at prime entry 2, kin entry 1

Note: The employment of -o- as a linking vowel in a compound rather than normal Latin -i- is peculiar. As noted in the Thesaurus Linguae Latinae, prīmogenitus is a loan-translation of Greek prōtótokos, and it is possible that the compositional -o- was taken over from the Greek word. Alternatively, the compound could be read as prīmōgenitus, with prīmō- being the Latin adverb prīmō "at first, for the first time."

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Legal Definition

primogeniture

noun

pri·mo·gen·i·ture ˌprī-mō-ˈje-nə-ˌchu̇r How to pronounce primogeniture (audio)

: the state of being the firstborn of the children of the same parents

: exclusive right of inheritance

specifically : a right to take all the real property of an estate belonging under English law to the eldest son or eldest male in the next degree of consanguinity if there is no son of an ancestor to the exclusion of all female and younger male descendants

单词	primogeniture
释义	primogeniture noun pri·mo·gen·i·ture ˌprī-mō-ˈje-nə-ˌchu̇r -chər, -ˌtyu̇r, -ˌtu̇r 1 : the state of being the firstborn of the children of the same parents 2 : an exclusive right of inheritance belonging to the eldest son Did you know? In many civilizations, past and present, the state of being the oldest among siblings is a key component of inheritance law. Primogeniture, which first appeared in English in the early 17th century, derives from the Late Latin prīmogenitūra, which itself comes from prīmogenitus, meaning "firstborn," a combination of the Latin prīmus ("first, earliest") and genitus ("birth"), from the past participle of gignere ("to beget"). For those who are youngest in birth order, a similar word applies—ultimogeniture—but this word is newer (first appearing in English in the late 19th century) and much less common. Example Sentences Recent Examples on the Web Had her parents birthed a son, after her or her sister, Princess Margaret, male-preference primogeniture would have placed him as the next heir to the throne. Essence, 8 Sep. 2022 His claim to the throne was also debated, coming down through his mother's side of the family (outside of the conventions of primogeniture). Lauren Hubbard, Town & Country, 24 May 2022 But his Grandpa Cudahy also believed in primogeniture, the practice of the oldest son inheriting the family business. Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 14 Mar. 2022 In the nineteen-sixties, a legal battle took place, in secret, over the claim of a Scottish transgender man, Ewan Forbes, to a baronetcy title whose succession was determined by male primogeniture. The New Yorker, 20 Dec. 2021 It was most recently amended in 2013 to end the system of male primogeniture, which automatically placed male heirs above their sisters in the line of succession. Erin Hill, PEOPLE.com, 4 Dec. 2021 It was most recently amended in 2013 to end the system of male primogeniture, which automatically placed male heirs above their sisters in the line of succession. Lanford Beard, PEOPLE.com, 20 Sep. 2021 It was most recently amended in 2013 to end the system of male primogeniture, which automatically placed male heirs above their sisters in the line of succession. Lanford Beard, PEOPLE.com, 20 Sep. 2021 It was most recently amended in 2013 to end the system of male primogeniture, which automatically placed male heirs above their sisters in the line of succession. Lanford Beard, PEOPLE.com, 20 Sep. 2021 See More Word History Etymology borrowed from Middle French & Late Latin; Middle French, borrowed from Late Latin prīmogenitūra, from prīmogenitus "firstborn" (from Latin prīmus "first, earliest" + -o- -o- —for expected -i- -i- — + genitus, past participle of gignere "to bring into being, beget, give birth to") + Latin -ūra -ure — more at prime entry 2, kin entry 1 Note: The employment of -o- as a linking vowel in a compound rather than normal Latin -i- is peculiar. As noted in the Thesaurus Linguae Latinae, prīmogenitus is a loan-translation of Greek prōtótokos, and it is possible that the compositional -o- was taken over from the Greek word. Alternatively, the compound could be read as prīmōgenitus, with prīmō- being the Latin adverb prīmō "at first, for the first time." First Known Use 15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1 Legal Definition primogeniture noun pri·mo·gen·i·ture ˌprī-mō-ˈje-nə-ˌchu̇r 1 : the state of being the firstborn of the children of the same parents 2 : exclusive right of inheritance specifically : a right to take all the real property of an estate belonging under English law to the eldest son or eldest male in the next degree of consanguinity if there is no son of an ancestor to the exclusion of all female and younger male descendants
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