bequeath

/bɪˈkwiθ/

/bɪˈkwiθ/

Other forms: bequeathed; bequeathing; bequeaths

To bequeath is to leave your possessions to another person after you die. A man might love his classic cars but would be happy to bequeath them to his grandchildren when he writes out his last will and testament.

Bequeath often is used about making plans to give away property and possessions after a person's death, like the pearl necklace that your great-grandmother bequeathed to you or a house that your uncle bequeathed to a his favorite charity. Sometimes bequeath is used for things handed down without death, as when living parents and grandparents pass, or bequeath, a legacy of stories or family traits and talents as an inheritance.

Definitions of bequeath

1. verb

   leave or give by will after one's death
   “My aunt bequeathed me all her jewelry”

   synonyms: leave, will

   leave, leave behind

   be survived by after one's death

   give, impart, leave, pass on

   transmit (knowledge or skills)

   antonyms:

   disinherit

   prevent deliberately (as by making a will) from inheriting

   types:

   devise

   give by will, especially real property

   pass on

   give to or transfer possession of

   remember

   show appreciation to

   entail, fee-tail

   limit the inheritance of property to a specific class of heirs

   propagate

   transmit from one generation to the next

   hand down

   passed on, as by inheritance

   type of:

   gift, give, present

   give as a present; make a gift of