Bequeath
To leave personal property to someone in a will; to pass on property or wealth through a testament.
verbBequeath
To leave personal property to someone in a will; to pass on property or wealth through a testament.
verbImagine This
Picture an elderly aunt in a sunlit study, signing a will. She smiles as she bequeaths her treasured violin to her nephew, and the parchment flutteringly records this gift for generations to come.
Sounds Like
bi-KWEETH
Looks Like
Be-queath (sounds like) be-quest
Remember This
Bequeath is commonly used for personal property; for real estate, the term 'devise' is often used in legal contexts. Bequest is the noun form of what is left by will.
Other Forms
Connect With
inherit, legacy, will, testament, estate, devise, heir
Note
Bequeath refers to passing property by will; in some legal contexts, 'devise' is used for real estate. Bequeath is more commonly used for personal property. The noun form is 'bequest' or 'bequeathal'.
Study Deeper
- In his will, he bequeathed his antique pocket watch to his grandson.
- The philanthropist chose to bequeath most of her wealth to the university.
From Middle English bequeathen, from Old English cwæþan 'to say, utter' with the be- prefix; the sense shifted over time to mean 'to hand down by will.'
Bequeath = pass wealth by will. Remember with BE-QUEATH: think of wealth being handed down to heirs in a formal bequest.
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