heritage

Meaning

Noun

• An inheritance; property that may be inherited.
• A tradition; a practice or set of values that is passed down from preceding generations through families or through institutional memory.
• A birthright; the status acquired by birth, especially of but not exclusive to the firstborn.
• Having a certain background, such as growing up with a second language.

Origin

• From Old French eritage, heritage, (French héritage), ultimately derived (through suffixation) from Latin hērēs.