Caducary

/kə'djuːkəri/ adjective

Definition

Relating to property or goods that revert to the state or lord when no heirs exist; pertaining to succession law or forfeiture.

Etymology

From Latin caducus (falling to one) + -ary (suffix meaning 'relating to'). A legal term from feudal law describing how property 'falls to' the crown.

Kelly Says

In medieval times, if you died without an heir, your property would 'fall' to the king—so lawyers created this term to describe lands that were essentially temporary loans!

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