Definition of BEQUEST

bequest

Meanings

Plural: bequests

Noun

  • (law) a gift of personal property by will
  • The act of bequeathing or leaving by will.
  • The transfer of property upon the owner's death according to the will of the deceased.
  • That which is left by will; a legacy.
  • That which has been handed down or transmitted.
  • A person's inheritance; an amount of property given by will.

Verb

  • To give as a bequest; bequeath.

Origin / Etymology

From Middle English biqueste, bequeste (“will, testament, bequest”), from be + -quiste, queste (“saying, utterance, testament, will, legacy”), from Old English *cwist, *cwiss (“saying”) (compare Old English andcwiss, ġecwis, uncwisse, etc.), from Proto-Germanic *kwissiz (“saying”), from Proto-Indo-European *gʷet- (“to say”). Related to Old English andcwiss (“answer, reply”), Old English uncwisse (“dumb, mute”), Middle English bequethen (“to bequeath”). More at quoth, bequeath.

Scrabble Score: 18

bequest is a valid Scrabble (US) TWL word
bequest is a valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
bequest is a valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary

Words With Friends Score: 20

bequest is a valid Words With Friends word