patrimony - Wiktionary, the free dictionary
English
Noun
patrimony (plural patrimonies)
- A right or estate inherited from one’s father; or, in a larger sense, from any male ancestor.
- ✤ Synonym: heirloom
- Formerly, a church estate or endowment.
Etymology
From earlier patrimoyne, from patremoyne, from Middle French patrimoine/patremoine, semilearned borrowing from Latin patrimōnium, from pater (“father”) + -mōnium (“state, condition”). First attested in 1513. By surface analysis, patri- + -mony. Compare matrimony.
Displaced native Old English fæderġestrēon.
Pronunciation
- (Received Pronunciation) IPA: /ˈpat.ɹɪ.mə.ni/
- (General American) IPA: /ˈpæt.ɹɪˌmoʊ.ni/
- Audio (US): 🔊
- Hyphenation: pat‧ri‧mo‧ny
Printed 2026-09-04.
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