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Where does the word "heir" come from? It comes from Latin heres, passing through Old French before entering English (1300s).
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Where does the word "heir" come from? It comes from Latin heres, passing through Old French before entering English (1300s).
Heir’s story begins in Latin: heres meant “heir.” The root of 'heredity' and 'inherit'. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as eir. The h is silent, as in French. It reached English by 1300s as heir. 'heir apparent' dates from the 1300s. Today, heir means a person legally entitled to inherit.
- Stage 1 · Latin · ancient heres "heir", the root of 'heredity' and 'inherit'.
- Stage 2 · Old French · medieval eir "heir", the h is silent, as in French.
- Stage 3 · English · 1300s heir "inheritor", 'heir apparent' dates from the 1300s.