hereditament

[ her-i-dit-uh-muhnt ]

noun

, Law.

1. any inheritable estate or interest in property.

hereditament

/ ˌhɛrɪˈdɪtəmənt /

noun

1. any kind of property capable of being inherited
2. property that before 1926 passed to an heir if not otherwise disposed of by will

Word History and Origins

Origin of hereditament¹

1425–75; late Middle English < Medieval Latin hērēditāmentum, derivative of Late Latin hērēditāre. See hereditable, -ment

Example Sentences

Public rights of way show up between parcels of land called “hereditaments.”

From The New Yorker

It is still used in the phrase “lands, tenements and hereditaments” to describe property in land, as distinguished from goods and chattels or movable property.

From Project Gutenberg

Trustees empowered to invest money on the security of freehold or copyhold hereditaments, may invest upon freehold ground rents reserved out of house property.

From Project Gutenberg

"And the parties to this indenture do farther covenant and agree, that all and every the said lands, tenements, and hereditaments—um—um."——How useful sometimes is ambiguity.

From Project Gutenberg

A franchise is an incorporeal hereditament, and arises either from royal grants or from prescription which presupposes a grant.

From Project Gutenberg