Heir
Origin
From Middle English heres, from Old French eir, heir, from Latin hēres (genitive hēredis).
Full definition of heir
Noun
heir
(plural heirs)- Someone who inherits, or is designated to inherit, the property of another.
- William Shakespeare (1564-1616)I am my father's heir and only son.
- 1959, Georgette Heyer, The Unknown Ajax Chapter 1, And no use for anyone to tell Charles that this was because the Family was in mourning for Mr Granville Darracott …: Charles might only have been second footman at Darracott Place for a couple of months when that disaster occurred, but no one could gammon him into thinking that my lord cared a spangle for his heir.
- One who inherits, or has been designated to inherit, a hereditary title or office.
- A successor in a role, representing continuity with the predecessor.
- Alexander Pope (1688-1744)And I his heir in misery alone.
- 1907, w, The Younger Set Chapter 1/2, “… a dreadful speculative builder built this house and persuaded Austin to buy it. Oh dear, and here we are among the rich and great ; and the steel kings and copper kings and oil kings and their heirs and dauphins. Do you like the house?â€
- 2013-05-11, What a waste, India is run by gerontocrats and epigones: grey hairs and groomed heirs.