The act or process of leaving property or possessions to someone in a will.
From bequeath (Old English becwethan: be- + cwethan 'to say') + -al suffix. The prefix be- intensified the verb, while -al creates a noun form describing the action itself.
Bequeathal shows how English builds meaning through layering: a simple 'say' verb evolved into 'legally declare what happens to your stuff after death,' and by adding -al we made it abstract enough to discuss the whole process.
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