primogeniture
noun
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In many civilizations, past and present, the state of being the oldest among siblings is a key component of inheritance law. Primogeniture, which first appeared in English in the early 17th century, derives from the Late Latin prīmogenitūra, which itself comes from prīmogenitus, meaning "firstborn," a combination of the Latin prīmus ("first, earliest") and genitus ("birth"), from the past participle of gignere ("to beget"). For those who are youngest in birth order, a similar word applies—ultimogeniture—but this word is newer (first appearing in English in the late 19th century) and much less common.
Example Sentences
Essence, 8 Sep. 2022 His claim to the throne was also debated, coming down through his mother's side of the family (outside of the conventions of primogeniture). Lauren Hubbard, Town & Country, 24 May 2022 But his Grandpa Cudahy also believed in primogeniture, the practice of the oldest son inheriting the family business. Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 14 Mar. 2022 In the nineteen-sixties, a legal battle took place, in secret, over the claim of a Scottish transgender man, Ewan Forbes, to a baronetcy title whose succession was determined by male primogeniture. The New Yorker, 20 Dec. 2021 It was most recently amended in 2013 to end the system of male primogeniture, which automatically placed male heirs above their sisters in the line of succession. Erin Hill, PEOPLE.com, 4 Dec. 2021 It was most recently amended in 2013 to end the system of male primogeniture, which automatically placed male heirs above their sisters in the line of succession. Lanford Beard, PEOPLE.com, 20 Sep. 2021 It was most recently amended in 2013 to end the system of male primogeniture, which automatically placed male heirs above their sisters in the line of succession. Lanford Beard, PEOPLE.com, 20 Sep. 2021 It was most recently amended in 2013 to end the system of male primogeniture, which automatically placed male heirs above their sisters in the line of succession. Lanford Beard, PEOPLE.com, 20 Sep. 2021 See More Word History
borrowed from Middle French & Late Latin; Middle French, borrowed from Late Latin prīmogenitūra, from prīmogenitus "firstborn" (from Latin prīmus "first, earliest" + -o- -o- —for expected -i- -i- — + genitus, past participle of gignere "to bring into being, beget, give birth to") + Latin -ūra -ure — more at prime entry 2, kin entry 1
Note: The employment of -o- as a linking vowel in a compound rather than normal Latin -i- is peculiar. As noted in the Thesaurus Linguae Latinae, prīmogenitus is a loan-translation of Greek prōtótokos, and it is possible that the compositional -o- was taken over from the Greek word. Alternatively, the compound could be read as prīmōgenitus, with prīmō- being the Latin adverb prīmō "at first, for the first time."
15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Legal Definition
primogeniture
noun