eigneadj.
/eɪn/U.S. /eɪn/ Law.
a. Firstborn, eldest; see ayne adj.
ΘΚΠ
society > society and the community > kinship or relationship > kinsman or relation > child > relationship to parent > [adjective] > first-born
eldestc1000
first-begottenc1350
first-gottena1382
firstbornc1384
first-gendereda1398
first-kinneda1400
oldest1478
ayne1483
first-conceived1574
eigne1586
eldest-born1608
primogenit1619
first-begot1671
primogenitala1706
old1706
primogenitary1827
primogenitive1842
1586 J. Ferne Blazon of Gentrie 286 Hee hath issue a sonne naturall by a concubine and after marryeth the same concubine, him the lawyers of Englande, call a Bastarde eigne.
1613 H. Finch Law (1636) 253 Where there be many of one name, diuersitie of the names must be put by addition of eigne, puisne, etc.
1677 W. Wycherley Plain-dealer iv. 65 Thou art not so much as Bastard eigne.
1809 T. E. Tomlins Jacob's Law-dict. Eigne, eldest or first-born; as bastard eigne.
b. eigne title: a prior, superior title. eigne estate: one that is entailed.
ΚΠ
1618 M. Dalton Countrey Justice 186 By reason of the eigne title of the disseisee.
a1641 J. Smyth Berkeley MSS (1885) III. 264 Hee was remitted to his eigne estate taile, to him and to the heires males of his body.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1891; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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adj.1586