Coparcener

/koʊˈpɑːrsnər/ noun

Definition

One of two or more people who share equally in an inheritance or estate; a co-heir.

Etymology

From co- + parcener (Old French parcener, from Latin partionarius). This legal term developed in England's feudal system to specify individuals with equal claims to inherited property.

Kelly Says

The word 'parcener' is so old that Shakespeare's generation was already dropping it—they preferred 'coheir'—but it survives in legal documents, making it a word that lives in courtrooms long after it dies in everyday speech.

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