Levir
/ˈliː.vɪr/noun
A husband’s brother, especially in relation to the levirate marriage custom.
Did you know?The word names the male relative at the center of the levirate, a custom documented in biblical Deuteronomy and other ancient legal traditions.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*dʰaiwēr
“Husband’s brother; a reconstructed kinship term.”
Ancient Sanskrit
Sanskrit
dēvṛ́
“Husband’s brother.”
Ancient Greek
Greek
δαήρ (daḗr)
“Husband’s brother.”
Classical Latin
Latin
levir
“Husband’s brother.”
Middle English
English
levir
“A husband’s brother, particularly in discussions of biblical marriage law.”
Modern English
English
levir
“A husband’s brother, especially one involved in a levirate marriage.”