Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Hereditary
He-red′i-ta-ry
,Adj.
[L.
hereditarius
, fr. hereditas
heirship, inheritance, fr. heres
heir: cf. F. héréditaire
. See Heir
.] 1.
Descended, or capable of descending, from an ancestor to an heir at law; received or passing by inheritance, or that must pass by inheritance;
as, an
. hereditary
estate or crown
Syn. – Ancestral; patrimonial; inheritable.
Webster 1828 Edition
Hereditary
HERED'ITARY
, a.1.
That has descended from an ancestor. He is in possession of a large hereditary estate.2.
That may descend from an ancestor to an heir; descendible to an heir at law. The crown of Great Britain is hereditary.3.
That is or may be transmitted from a parent to a child; as hereditary pride; hereditary bravery; hereditary disease.