[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/heir/) [dictionaries](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [English](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/) / [H](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/h/) / heir # heir noun (an heir, heirs) «heir» in the English dictionary: everyday and in Jewish tradition — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova. ## Everyday 1. A person who will receive someone's money, house or other property when that person dies, as in «She is heir to the farm». [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/H/heir/#m1) 2. The person who will become king, queen or ruler next, as in «the heir to the throne». [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/H/heir/#m2) 3. Someone who carries on another person's work or ideas. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/H/heir/#m3) ### In the lessons In history lessons, kings and queens worried about having an heir; Henry VIII's search for a son is a famous example. In the news, the heir to the British throne is the next in line. In law and family life, an heir inherits property. In stories, a lost heir often finds out who they are. ### Examples - Prince William is the heir to the throne. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/H/heir/#x1) - Henry VIII wanted a son as his heir. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/H/heir/#x2) - She was the only heir to her uncle's fortune. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/H/heir/#x3) - In the story, the orphan turned out to be the lost heir of the kingdom. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/H/heir/#x4) - The farm passed to the oldest heir. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/H/heir/#x5) - He saw himself as the heir to his grandad's woodworking skills. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/H/heir/#x6) - Take my daughter; be my heir; rule my kingdom. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/H/heir/#x7) ### Note The h is silent: say «air», so it takes «an»: «an heir». Homophones: «air» and «ere». An «heirloom» is a treasure passed down a family. «Heiress» is an old word for a woman heir. ## In Jewish tradition Someone who takes over a person's property or place after their death. The Prophets and Writings also use it in a family-line sense: a widow in Tekoa fears her son's death will destroy the "heir," and Proverbs mentions a maidservant who becomes heir to her mistress. **Interpretation.** Abram worries that his servant will be his heir. God promises him a son, and later Isaac, not Ishmael, is named the heir. Tradition sees this as the passing on of the covenant. In Samuel the word shows how important it was for a family line to continue. ### Examples - And Abram said: 'Behold, to me Thou hast given no seed, and, lo, one born in my house is to be mine heir.' (Torah GEN.15.3, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/H/heir/#x1) - Wherefore she said unto Abraham: 'Cast out this bondwoman and her son; for the son of this bondwoman shall not be heir with my son, even with Isaac.' (Torah GEN.21.10, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/H/heir/#x2) - And, behold, the word of the LORD came unto him, saying: 'This man shall not be thine heir; but he that shall come forth out of thine own bowels shall be thine heir.' (Torah GEN.15.4, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/H/heir/#x3) - For an odious woman when she is married; and a handmaid that is heir to her mistress. (Writings PRO.30.23, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/H/heir/#x4) - And, behold, the whole family is risen against thy handmaid, and they said: Deliver him that smote his brother, that we may kill him for the life of his brother whom he slew, and so destroy the heir also. (Prophets 2SA.14.7, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/H/heir/#x5) ### Note The h is silent: say «air», so it takes «an»: «an heir». Homophones: «air» and «ere». An «heirloom» is a treasure passed down a family. «Heiress» is an old word for a woman heir. ## On Mova - [Trees and pragmatics of «heir» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/H/heir/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames. - [«heir» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/heir.html) on Mova free. - [Trees and pragmatics of «heir» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/H/heir/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames. - [«heir» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/judaism/w/heir.html) on Mova free.