Bequeath

Pronunciation: /bɪˈkwiːð/

Definitions of bequeath

verb to leave or give (personal property) by will

Example Sentences

A1 My grandmother bequeathed her antique jewelry to me.

A2 The wealthy businessman decided to bequeath his fortune to charity.

B1 In his will, he bequeathed his entire estate to his son.

B2 The famous artist bequeathed her paintings to a museum for future generations to enjoy.

C1 The royal family bequeathed the historic castle to the government for preservation.

C2 The philanthropist bequeathed a substantial amount of money to various charitable organizations in his will.

Examples of bequeath in a Sentence

formal The wealthy philanthropist decided to bequeath his entire estate to charity.

informal My grandmother told me she plans to bequeath her antique jewelry collection to me.

slang I can't believe Uncle Joe bequeathed his classic car to his neighbor instead of his own family.

figurative The artist hoped to bequeath a legacy of creativity and inspiration to future generations.

Grammatical Forms of bequeath

• past tense: bequeathed
• plural: bequeath
• comparative: more bequeath
• superlative: most bequeath
• present tense: bequeath
• future tense: will bequeath
• perfect tense: have bequeathed
• continuous tense: bequeathing
• singular: bequeaths
• positive degree: bequeath
• infinitive: bequeath
• gerund: bequeathing
• participle: bequeathing

Origin and Evolution of bequeath

First Known Use: 1250 year

Language of Origin: Old English

Story behind the word: The word 'bequeath' originated from Old English 'bēcwethan' which means to speak about or declare. It evolved from the prefix 'be-' meaning about or around, and 'cwethan' meaning to say or speak.

Evolution of the word: Over time, 'bequeath' came to specifically refer to the act of leaving property or possessions to someone in a will. The word has retained this meaning in modern English.