bequest

Meanings

Noun

• The act of bequeathing or leaving by will.
• The transfer of property upon the owner's death according to the will of the deceased.
• That which is left by will; a legacy.
• That which has been handed down or transmitted.
• A person's inheritance; an amount of property given by will.

Verb

• To give as a bequest; bequeath.

Related

Similar words

• bequeathal
• legacy
• gift
• donation

Origin

• From Middle English biqueste, bequeste, from be + -queste, from Old English *cwist, *cwiss (compare Old English andcwiss, ġecwis, uncwisse, etc.), from Proto-Germanic *kwissiz, from Proto-Indo-European *gʷet-. Related to Old English andcwiss, Old English uncwisse, Middle English bequethen. More at quoth, bequeath.
• From Middle English biquesten, from the noun (see above).