primogeniture
pronunciation
How to pronounce primogeniture in British English:
UK [ˌpraɪməʊˈdʒenɪtʃə(r)]
How to pronounce primogeniture in American English:
US [ˌpraɪmoʊˈdʒenɪtʃə(r)]
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- Noun:
- right of inheritance belongs exclusively to the eldest son
Word Origin
- primogeniture (n.)
- "right of succession of the first-born," c. 1600, from French primogeniture and directly from Medieval Latin primogenitura, from Late Latin primogenitus "first-born," from Latin primo (adv.) "first in order of time," from primus "first" (see prime (adj.)) + genitus, past participle of gignere "to beget" (see genus). Earlier it meant simply "fact of being first-born" (1590s).
Example
- 1. The royal couple needn 't worry if their baby is a girl : the government has been seeking to scrap the so-called rule of primogeniture , which hands the throne to a boy where possible .