Bequest

Origin

From Middle English bequeste ("will, testament, bequest"), from be- + queste ("saying, utterance"), from Old English *cwist, *cwiss (""), from Proto-Germanic *kwissiz ("saying"), from Proto-Indo-European *gÊ·et- ("to say"). Related to Old English andcwiss ("answer, reply"), Old English uncwisse ("dumb, mute"), Middle English bequethen ("bequeath"). More at quoth, bequeath.

Full definition of bequest

Noun

1. The act of bequeathing or leaving by will.
2. The transfer of property upon the owner's death according to the will of the deceased.
3. That which is left by will; a legacy.
4. That which has been handed down or transmitted.
5. A person's inheritance; an amount of property given by will.

Synonyms

• legacy
• gift
• donation

Verb

1. (transitive) To give as a bequest; bequeath.