bequeath

[ bih-kweeth, -kweeth ]

verb (used with object)

1. to dispose of (personal property, especially money) by last will:

   She bequeathed her half of the company to her niece.

   Synonyms: consign, grant, bestow, leave, impart, will

2. to hand down; pass on.
3. Obsolete. to commit; entrust.

bequeath

/ bɪˈkwiːð; -ˈkwiːθ /

verb

1. law to dispose of (property, esp personal property) by will Compare devise
2. to hand down; pass on, as to following generations

Derived Forms

• beˈqueathal, noun
• beˈqueather, noun

Other Words From

• be·queath·a·ble adjective
• be·queath·al be·queath·ment noun
• be·queath·er noun
• un·be·queath·a·ble adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of bequeath¹

First recorded before 1000; Middle English bequethen, Old English becwethan ( be- be- + cwethan “to say” ( quoth ), cognate with Old High German quedan, Gothic qithan )

Word History and Origins

Origin of bequeath¹

Old English becwethan ; related to Old Norse kvetha to speak, Gothic qithan , Old High German quethan

Example Sentences

With an estimated worth of $60 million, Goldberg said in a spring episode that she plans to bequeath it all to her daughter, Alexandrea Martin.

From Salon

López Obrador – a hugely popular but controversial figure in Mexico – bequeathed more than just the presidential sash to his political protégé.

From BBC

He played the role of mediator, bequeathing legitimacy to a group which seemingly needed his normalcy.

From Salon

Given that the Pence evidence is just the first of many headaches the justices bequeathed to Chutkan, the government argued that the district judge should decide all the immunity questions first.

From Los Angeles Times

The Biden plan would repeal the step-up for heirs by levying the capital gains tax on the bequeathed asset, calculated from the original purchase and charged to the decedent’s estate.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• bestow
• entrust
• hand down
• impart
• pass on