patrimony
(ˈpætrɪmənɪ)
Forms: 4 patre-, patrymoyne, patrimoigne, 4–5 -moygne, 4–7 patrimonie, -ye, 5– patrimony, (5–7 patrymonie, -y).
[a. F. patri-, patremoine (12–13th c. in Hatz.-Darm.), ad. L. patrimōnium paternal estate, patrimony, f. patr-em father: see -mony.]
1. Property, or an estate, inherited from one's father or ancestors; heritage, inheritance.
| 1377 Langl. P. Pl. B. xx. 233 For þei arn poure,..For patrimoigne hem failleth. c 1412 Hoccleve De Reg. Princ. 3760 Plato, his patrimoygne and his contree Lefte and forsook, and dwelte in wildernesse. 1513–14 Act 5 Hen. VIII, c. 1. Preamble, To recover the Royalme of Fraunce his very true patrimonye and enheritaunce. 1593 Shakes. 2 Hen. VI, v. i. 187 To reaue the Orphan of his Patrimonie. 1697 Dryden Virg. Georg. iii. 534 The Shepherd..with him all his Patrimony bears: His House and Houshold Gods. 1751 Johnson Rambler No. 153 ¶3 The second son of a gentle⁓man, whose patrimony had been wasted. a 1854 H. Reed Lect. Brit. Poets vii. (1857) 260 He spent his whole patrimony in the hapless cause of his king. |
b. transf. The estate or property belonging by ancient right to an institution, corporation, or class; esp. the ancient estate or endowment of a church or religious body. patrimony of St. Peter, a name for the Papal States, or territory formerly held by the Pope in Italy.
| 1340 Ayenb. 41 Þo þet þe guodes of holy cherche, þe patremoyne of Iesu crist despendeþ ine kueade us. 1456 Sir G. Haye Law Arms (S.T.S.) 24 [He] held a grete part of the patrymonye of haly kirk on force. 1582 Reg. Privy Council Scot. III. 496 The patrimony of the said bischoprik. 1601 R. Johnson Kingd. & Commw. (1603) 112 The patrimony of S. Peter, bequeathed to the church by the countesse Matilda. 1682 Burnet Rights Princes v. 192 That the Goods of the Church were the Patrimonies of the Poor. 1756–7 tr. Keysler's Trav. (1760) II. 432 Viterbo, Perugia, and the mountainous parts of St. Peter's patrimony. a 1862 Buckle Civiliz. (1869) III. ii. 89 In a really Christian land, the patrimony of the Church would be left untouched. |
c. fig. Applied to things (usually immaterial) received or ‘inherited’ from ancestors or predecessors; ‘heritage’.
| 1581 Mulcaster Positions xxxvii. (1887) 155 Learning..is the patrimonie to wittie pouertie. 1612 Brinsley Lud. Lit. ii. (1627) 10 To see their children to have the best education,..which is the chiefe patrimonie. 1776 Adam Smith W.N. i. x. ii. (1869) I. 128 The patrimony of a poor man lies in the strength and dexterity of his hands. 1865 Livingstone Zambesi xxix. 601 The Gospel, the especial patrimony of the poor and the illiterate. |
† 2. The fact of inheriting from an ancestor, inheritance. Obs.
| 1484 Caxton Fables of Alfonce iii, It was come to hym by inherytaunce and by patrymony. c 1489 ― Sonnes of Aymon xiv. 327, I was crowned Kynge accordynge to the right of my patrymonye. a 1533 Ld. Berners Gold. Bk. M. Aurel. (1546) D v, The Emperour to inherite the empyre by Patrimonie. 1580–1 Reg. Privy Council Scot. III. 364 The lands.., pertening to his Majestie in proper patrimony. |