ademption

[ uh-demp-shuhn ]

noun

, Law.

1. the failure of a legacy because the subject matter no longer belongs to the testator's estate at death.

ademption

/ əˈdɛmpʃən /

noun

1. property law the failure of a specific legacy, as by a testator disposing of the subject matter in his lifetime

Word History and Origins

Origin of ademption¹

1580–90; < Latin ademptiōn- (stem of ademptiō ) a taking away, equivalent to adempt ( us ) ( ad- ad- + em ( p )-, stem of emere to take + -tus past participle suffix) + -ion- -ion

Word History and Origins

Origin of ademption¹

C16: from Latin ademptiōn- a taking away, from adimere to take away, take to (oneself), from ad- to + emere to buy, take

Example Sentences

After a brief pause, as though Mr. Hill was meditating for a succinct and clear definition, he said,— “I would define transcendentalism as the spiritual cognoscence of psychological irrefragability, connected with concuitant ademption of encolumnient spirituality, and etherealized contention of subsultory concretion.”

From Project Gutenberg

Of the ademption and transference of legacies XXII.

From Project Gutenberg