bequest
bequest Lexical Profile
bequest Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A legacy; money or personal property left to a person or organization by a will.
"The art museum acquired several rare impressionist paintings through a generous bequest from a local collector."
The act of leaving or giving personal property by a will.
"The legal documents finalized the bequest of the family estate to the university's scholarship fund."
Word Nuance & Usage
Do not confuse the noun 'bequest' with its corresponding verb 'bequeath'; in strict legal usage, a 'bequest' applies specifically to personal property or money left in a will, whereas a 'devise' refers to real estate.
• Rhymes for bequest
Word Origin & Etymology
From Middle English biqueste, formed from the prefix be- and Old English cwis ('saying, speech'), related to cwethan ('to say, speak'); the final -t was added by analogy with words like 'request'.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.