Hereditable

/həˈrɛdɪtəbəl/ adjective

Definition

Capable of being passed down from parents to children through genes or inheritance.

Etymology

From Latin 'hereditabilis,' derived from 'hereditas' (inheritance) and 'heres' (heir). The suffix '-able' was added to indicate capability or possibility of inheriting.

Kelly Says

While 'heritable' is the modern scientific term, 'hereditable' was used historically in legal documents to describe property and titles that could legally pass to heirs.

Related Words

Explore More Words

Get the Word Orb API

Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.