Patrimony
/ˈpæ.trɪˌmoʊ.ni/noun
Property, money, or rights inherited from one’s father or ancestors.
Did you know?Patrimony comes through Latin patrimonium, the legal property of a father, from pater, and it shares that ancient father-root with words like patron, patriot, and even expatriate.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*ph₂tḗr
“father”
Latin
Latin
pater
“father”
Latin
Latin
patrimonium
“property inherited from a father; paternal estate”
Old French
OF
patrimoine
“inheritance; ancestral property”
Late Middle English
English
patrimonie
“inherited property, especially from one’s father”
Modern English
English
patrimony
“property or inheritance passed down from an ancestor, especially a father”
Explore more surprising origins