Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Bequeath
Be-queath′
(bē̍-kwēth′)
, Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Bequeathed
; p. pr. & vb. n.
Bequeathing
.] [OE.
biquethen
, AS. becweðan
to say, affirm, bequeath; pref. be-
+ cweðan
to say, speak. See Quoth
.] 1.
To give or leave by will; to give by testament; – said especially of personal property.
My heritage, which my dead father did
bequeath
to me. Shakespeare
2.
To hand down; to transmit.
To
bequeath
posterity somewhat to remember it. Glanvill.
3.
To give; to offer; to commit.
[Obs.]
To whom, with all submission, on my knee
I do
And true subjection everlastingly.
I do
bequeath
my faithful servicesAnd true subjection everlastingly.
Shakespeare
Both these words denote the giving or disposing of property by will. Devise, in legal usage, is property used to denote a gift by will of real property, and he to whom it is given is called the devisee. Bequeath is properly applied to a gift by will or legacy; i. e., of personal property; the gift is called a legacy, and he who receives it is called a legatee. In popular usage the word bequeath is sometimes enlarged so as to embrace devise; and it is sometimes so construed by courts.
Webster 1828 Edition
Bequeath
BEQUE'ATH
,Verb.
T.
Definition 2024
bequeath
bequeath
English
Verb
bequeath (third-person singular simple present bequeaths, present participle bequeathing, simple past bequeathed or bequoth, past participle bequeathed or (rare) bequethen)
- (law) To give or leave by will; to give by testament.
- To hand down; to transmit.
- To give; to offer; to commit.
Usage notes
- (give or leave by will): The verb bequeath is usually used of personal property; for real property, the term devise is preferred.
Related terms
Translations
to give or leave by will
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to hand down; to transmit
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