Heir

(âr), n. [O. Fr. heir, hoir, eir, oir, N. Fr. héritier, Pr. her, heres, heretier, It. erede, from Lat. hærēs, hærēdis.] 1. One who receives, inherits, or is entitled to succeed to the possession of any property after the death of its owner; one in whom the title to an estate vests on the death of the proprietor; one on whom the law bestows the title or property of another at the death of the latter. I am my father's heir and only son. Shak. 2. One who receives any endowment from an ancestor or relation; as, the heir of one's reputation, virtues, and the like. “Heir to an honorable name.” Macaulay. Heir apparent. See APPARENT.—Heir at law, one who, after his ancestor's death, has a right to inherit all his intestate estate. Wharton.—Heir presumptive, one who, if the ancestor should die immediately, would be his heir, but whose right to the inheritance may be defeated by the birth of a nearer relative, or by some other contingency.