levirate

lev·i·rate

L l

Transcription

- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
- UK Pronunciation
- UK IPA
- [lev-er-it, -uh-reyt, lee-ver-it, -vuh-reyt]
- /ˈlɛv ər ɪt, -əˌreɪt, ˈli vər ɪt, -vəˌreɪt/
- /lˈevɪrˌeɪt/

- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
- [lev-er-it, -uh-reyt, lee-ver-it, -vuh-reyt]
- /ˈlɛv ər ɪt, -əˌreɪt, ˈli vər ɪt, -vəˌreɪt/

Definitions of levirate word

noun levirate the custom of marriage by a man with his brother's widow, such marriage required in Biblical law if the deceased was childless. Deut. 25:5–10. 1
noun levirate Having to do with one's husband's brother. 1
noun levirate the practice, required by Old Testament law, of marrying the widow of one's brother 0
noun levirate a custom of the Jews in Biblical times by which a dead man's brother was obligated to marry the widow if there were no sons: Deut. 25:5-10 0
noun levirate (Countable Noun) A marriage between a widow and her deceased husband's brother or, sometimes, heir. 0
noun levirate (anthropology) The institution of levirate marriage. 0

See all 6 definitions of levirate

Information block about the term

Origin of levirate

First appearance:

before 1715

One of the 49% newest English words

1715-25; < Latin lēvir husband's brother (akin to Greek dāḗr, Sanskrit devar, Old English tācor) + -ate3

Historical Comparancy

Parts of speech for Levirate

noun

adjective

verb

adverb

pronoun

preposition

conjunction

determiner

exclamation

Full grammatical hierarchy of Levirate

levirate popularity

A common word. It’s meaning is known to most children of preschool age. About 75% of English native speakers know the meaning and use the word.

According to our data about 51% of words is more used. This is a rare but used term. It occurs in the pages of specialized literature and in the speech of educated people.

levirate usage trend in Literature

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