coheir
(kəʊˈɛə(r))
[f. co- 3 c + heir; cf. L. cohērēs, OF. cohoir (Godefroy).]
One who participates in an inheritance; a joint heir.
| 1532 [see c]. 1570 Levins Manip. 203/1 A coheyre, cohæres. 1606 Holland Sueton. 127 Tiberius..had adioyned coheire unto him another of his Nephews under age. 1741 Middleton Cicero II. xi. 509 Coheir in part of his Uncle's estate. 1818 Cruise Digest (ed. 2) III. 214 The petitioner was one of the coheirs of John Lord Botetourt. 1861 Maine Anc. Law vi. 181 A group of persons, considered in law as a single unit, might succeed as co-heirs to the Inheritance. |
b. said of a woman: a coheiress.
| 1586 J. Ferne Lacies Nobilitie 68 His wife—being the cousen and one of the coheyres to William Romary. 1611 Shakes. Wint. T. ii. i. 148, I haue three daughters..they are co⁓heyres. c 1710 C. Fiennes Diary (1888) 57 A Coe heir. 1866 Sir J. B. Burke Dormant & Ext. Peerages 293/1 Alice, one of the daughters and co-heirs of Hugh de Bolebec. |
c. fig. (Frequently as a translation of συγκληρονόµοι in Romans viii. 17.)
| 1532 More Confut. Tindale Wks. 700/1 Heires of god, coheires of Christ. 1650 Jer. Taylor Holy Living (J.), All coheirs in the inheritance of Jesus. |
Hence coˈheirship.
| 1608 Hieron Defence iii. 3 The Princely and glorious coheirship purchased for them by Christ. 1818 Cruise Digest (ed. 2) III. 210 It falls into abeyance..during the continuance of the coheirship. 1866 Pall Mall G. 21 Feb. 9/2 The abeyance of an ancient barony was terminated in favour of a gentleman in whom ‘one-fourth of a third of the coheirship’ of it vested. |