patrimony
noun
pat·ri·mo·ny ˈpa-trə-ˌmō-nē 
1
a
: an estate inherited from one's father or ancestor
there were always children, and the patrimony was divided every time
D. H. Lawrence
D. H. Lawrence b
: anything derived from one's father or ancestors : heritage
These historic landmarks are an important part of our cultural patrimony.
2
: an estate or endowment belonging by ancient right to a church
canon law … aims at conserving the patrimony of the diocese T. J. Reese
T. J. Reese patrimonial
ˌpa-trə-ˈmō-nē-əl
adjective 
Synonyms
- bequest
- birthright
- heritage
- inheritance
- legacy
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
These historic landmarks are an important part of our cultural patrimony. her patrimony was the family's newspaper business
Recent Examples on the Web The idealized nudity of classical sculptures, the sturdy realism of Roman portrait heads, and the proportions and decorations of classical architecture were all taken up in Florence as a kind of patrimony. Sebastian Smee, Washington Post, 13 May 2022 Fashion, after all, is part of the bedrock of the French economy and its patrimony, and Louis Vuitton plays a very specific role in both. New York Times, 25 Apr. 2022 The 1989 Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act required the return of sacred objects, objects of cultural patrimony, and human remains to Indigenous peoples. Alicia Ault, Smithsonian Magazine, 11 Mar. 2022 In addition to taking lives, the destruction of cultural patrimony is a way of eliminating a culture’s narratives. Los Angeles Times, 28 Feb. 2022 But the 24-year-old wasn't just granted his muscular frame solely on the basis of his patrimony. Brett Williams, Men's Health, 8 Feb. 2022 Norma Marshall, who teaches tribal history at the College of the Muscogee Nation; and Turner Hunt, who handles thousands of tribal-patrimony inquiries annually, joined her in a call from Okmulgee, Oklahoma. Michael Warren, ajc, 7 Feb. 2022 In late October, the emperor Charles VI had died without a male heir, leaving the chaotic jumble of territories that made up the Habsburg patrimony to his 23-year-old daughter, Maria Theresa. A. Wess Mitchell, WSJ, 28 Jan. 2022 What Silva is exploring is patrimony, which in his case is a minefield of loss. David L. Ulin, Los Angeles Times, 2 Dec. 2021 See More
Sebastian Smee, Washington Post, 13 May 2022 Fashion, after all, is part of the bedrock of the French economy and its patrimony, and Louis Vuitton plays a very specific role in both. New York Times, 25 Apr. 2022 The 1989 Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act required the return of sacred objects, objects of cultural patrimony, and human remains to Indigenous peoples. Alicia Ault, Smithsonian Magazine, 11 Mar. 2022 In addition to taking lives, the destruction of cultural patrimony is a way of eliminating a culture’s narratives. Los Angeles Times, 28 Feb. 2022 But the 24-year-old wasn't just granted his muscular frame solely on the basis of his patrimony. Brett Williams, Men's Health, 8 Feb. 2022 Norma Marshall, who teaches tribal history at the College of the Muscogee Nation; and Turner Hunt, who handles thousands of tribal-patrimony inquiries annually, joined her in a call from Okmulgee, Oklahoma. Michael Warren, ajc, 7 Feb. 2022 In late October, the emperor Charles VI had died without a male heir, leaving the chaotic jumble of territories that made up the Habsburg patrimony to his 23-year-old daughter, Maria Theresa. A. Wess Mitchell, WSJ, 28 Jan. 2022 What Silva is exploring is patrimony, which in his case is a minefield of loss. David L. Ulin, Los Angeles Times, 2 Dec. 2021 See More Word History
Etymology
Middle English patrimoine, patrimonie, from Anglo-French patremoine, from Latin patrimonium, from patr-, pater father
First Known Use
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Legal Definition
patrimony
noun
pat·ri·mo·ny ˈpa-trə-ˌmō-nē
plural patrimonies
1
: an estate inherited from one's father or ancestor
to deprive her and her coheirs of their patrimony Wells Fargo Bank v. Kincaid, 260 Cal. App. 2d 120 (1968)
Wells Fargo Bank v. Kincaid, 260 Cal. App. 2d 120 (1968)2
: an estate or endowment belonging to a church
the property of a dissolved parish shall pass to the patrimony of the diocese
3
in the civil law of Louisiana : the net assets of a person : the sum of a person's assets and liabilities
reimbursement shall be made from the patrimony of the spouse who owes reimbursement Louisiana Civil Code
Louisiana Civil Codepatrimony
noun
as in inheritance
something that is or may be inherited her patrimony was the family's newspaper business Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- inheritance
- legacy
- bequest
- heritage
- gift
- birthright
- present
- heirloom
- offering
- bestowal