01 v. t. To give or leave by will; to give by testament; -- said especially of personal property.
imp. & p. p.
Bequeathed; p. pr. & vb. n.
Bequeathing
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1.
To give or leave by will; to give by testament; -- said especially of personal property.“My heritage, which my dead father did bequeath to me.” — Shak.
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2.
To hand down; to transmit.“To bequeath posterity somewhat to remember it.” — Glanvill.
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3.
To give; to offer; to commit.[Obs.]“To whom, with all submission, on my knee I do bequeath my faithful services And true subjection everlastingly.” — Shak.
Syn.
To Bequeath, Devise.
Both these words denote the giving or disposing of property by will. Devise, in legal usage, is property used to denote a gift by will of real property, and he to whom it is given is called the devisee. Bequeath is properly applied to a gift by will or legacy; i. e., of personal property; the gift is called a legacy, and he who receives it is called a legatee. In popular usage the word bequeath is sometimes enlarged so as to embrace devise; and it is sometimes so construed by courts.