Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

heir presumptive

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: 2.78 in modern English

Syllables: heir pre-sump-tive
IPA

27

Scrabble Score

15

Letters

3

Syllables

10

Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

Someone who will become an heir (usually to a monarchy) only if no-one with a higher-ranking claim is born.

Example Sentences

"I am quite aware that your premature decease would leave me heir-presumptive to the title- ”Heir-presumptive? . . . Oh, I see. My mother might peg out and my father marry again. Calculating brute.”"

Etymology

A calque of French héritier présomptif, hence the unusual order of adjective following noun.

Inflected Forms

heirs presumptive (plural)

Frequently Paired Words

heiress presumptive

Antonyms

heir apparent

Questions

What does heir presumptive mean?: Someone who will become an heir (usually to a monarchy) only if no-one with a higher-ranking claim is born.
Where does heir presumptive come from?: A calque of French héritier présomptif, hence the unusual order of adjective following noun.

How to pronounce heir presumptive

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