heir
UK: eə(r) | US: er
n. a person legally entitled to inherit property, rank, or title from an ancestor
n. a successor in a role or tradition
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The word "heir" traces back to Latin heres, which directly entered Old French as heir before being adopted into Middle English. Unlike many English words, "heir" retains its monomorphic structure without separable prefixes or suffixes. Its core meaning of "inheritor" has remained consistent, reflecting its legal and familial connotations. The silent "h" in modern English pronunciation is a vestige of its French origin, where the letter was often dropped in speech but preserved in spelling.
The king's eldest son is the rightful heir to the throne.
She was named the sole heir of her grandfather's estate.
The company sought a worthy heir to its founder's innovative legacy.
In many cultures, daughters were historically excluded as legal heirs.
The young artist was considered the heir to the Renaissance masters' techniques.