6 April 2017

primogeniture

[prahy-muh-jen-i-cher, -choo r]

noun

1. the state or fact of being the firstborn of children of the same parents.
2. Law. the system of inheritance or succession by the firstborn, specifically the eldest son.

Origin of primogeniture

Medieval Latin

1585-1595; < Medieval Latin prīmōgenitūra a first birth, equivalent to Latin prīmō at first + genitūra, equivalent to genit (us) (past participle of gignere to beget; see kin ) + -ūra -ure

Related forms

primogenitary, primogenital, adjective
primogenitureship, noun

Dictionary.com

Examples from the Web for primogeniture

Contemporary Examples

The modern equivalent of primogeniture in the U.S., as Schine sees it, is divorce.
This Week’s Hot Reads
The Daily Beast
February 17, 2010

Historical Examples

Disintegration was greatly increased by the practice of the partition of territories among brothers in place of primogeniture.
The World’s Greatest Books, Vol XI.
Edited by Arthur Mee and J.A. Hammerton

Here then emerges the historical difficulty of primogeniture.
Ancient Law
Sir Henry James Sumner Maine

Anagram

Timor pureeing
permute origin
premiering out
trio up regimen

Today’s quote

Never respect men merely for their riches, but rather for their philanthropy; we do not value the sun for its height, but for its use.

– Gamaliel Bailey

On this day

6 April 1895 – The Australian ballad, ‘Waltzing Matilda‘ is performed at the North Gregory Hotel, Winton (central-west Queensland). This is believed to be the first time the song was performed in public.

6 April 1896 – The Olympic Games recommences in Athens 1,501 years after being banned by Emperor Theodosius I in 393AD.

6 April 1909 – Robert E. Peary and Matthew A. Henson become the first men to reach the North Pole. Their claim is in dispute because of navigation techniques and lack of independent verification.

6 April 2006 – the National Geographic Society reveals the discovery of a papyrus codex in a cave near El Minya, Egypt, which it claims is the Gospel of Judas Iscariot. The codex is yet to be verified as written by Judas.