patrimony

Meanings

1. A right or estate inherited from one's father; or, in a larger sense, from any male ancestor.
2. 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.