patrimony

First attested in 1513. From earlier patrimoyne, from patremoyne, from Middle French patrimoine/patremoine, semi-learned borrowing from Latin patrimōnium, from pater (“father”) + -mōnium (“state, condition”). By surface analysis, patri- +‎ -mony. Compare matrimony.

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˈpat.ɹɪ.mə.ni/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /ˈpæt.ɹɪˌmoʊ.ni/

  • Audio (US)

    (file)

• Hyphenation: pat‧ri‧mo‧ny

patrimony (plural patrimonies)

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

   Synonym: heirloom

2. Formerly, a church estate or endowment.

• See Derived terms of pater
• See Derived terms of -mony

• “patrimony”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC.
• “patrimony”, in The Century Dictionary […], New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911, →OCLC.
• Douglas Harper (2001–2024) “patrimony”, in Online Etymology Dictionary.