Etymology Map
Back to all words

Heredity

3 stages from Latin to English.

Today it means the passing of traits from parents to offspring

Where does the word "heredity" come from? It comes from Latin hereditas, passing through French before entering English (1530s).

1
Stage 1 of 3
hereditas
Latin · ancient
"inheritance"
from 'heres', heir
2
Stage 2 of 3
hérédité
French · 1500s
"inheritance"
Old French 'eredite' meant an inheritance or legacy; Herbert Spencer gave it the biological sense of passing traits from parents to offspring in 1863
3
Stage 3 of 3
heredity
English · 1530s
"inheritance"
the biological sense dates from the 1860s
Drag to pan · scroll to zoom
Read the full story

Heredity’s story begins in Latin: hereditas meant “inheritance.” From 'heres', heir. By 1500s, the word had taken hold in French as hérédité. Old French 'eredite' meant an inheritance or legacy; Herbert Spencer gave it the biological sense of passing traits from parents to offspring in 1863. It reached English by 1530s as heredity. The biological sense dates from the 1860s. Today, heredity means the passing of traits from parents to offspring.