patrimony

[ pa-truh-moh-nee ]

noun

, plural pat·ri·mo·nies.

1. an estate inherited from one's father or ancestors.

   Synonyms: inheritance

2. any quality, characteristic, etc., that is inherited; heritage.
3. the aggregate of one's property.
4. the estate or endowment of a church, religious house, etc.

patrimony

/ ˈpætrɪmənɪ; ˌpætrɪˈməʊnɪəl /

noun

1. an inheritance from one's father or other ancestor
2. the endowment of a church

Derived Forms

• ˌpatriˈmonially, adverb
• patrimonial, adjective

Other Words From

• patri·moni·al adjective
• patri·moni·al·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of patrimony¹

1300–50; Middle English patrimonie < Middle French < Latin patrimōnium. See patri-, -mony

Word History and Origins

Origin of patrimony¹

C14 patrimoyne, from Old French, from Latin patrimonium paternal inheritance

Example Sentences

But mandating folic acid in masa isn’t like adding fluoride to tap water; it’s messing with cultural patrimony.

From Los Angeles Times

Officials declined to say how much the initiative cost, but the actual replica was made by the Factum Foundation, a Madrid-based non-profit that creates high-resolution digital replicas of the world’s cultural patrimony.

From Seattle Times

While acknowledging activists’ right to protest, he said they must “respect the law and our cultural and religious patrimony.”

From Washington Times

The first Taliban regime was notorious for destroying art and cultural patrimony it deemed un-Islamic, such as the giant ancient buddhas carved into cliffs in Bamiyan.

From Seattle Times

Russians consider this an ancient patrimony of Russia, and any Russian government would be hard put to give the peninsula back to Ukraine.

From Salon