FELL HEIR Meaning and
Definition
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"Fell heir" is an idiomatic expression used primarily in a legal or inheritance context to describe the acquisition or inheritance of assets, property, or possessions following the death of the previous owner or creditor.
The phrase "fell heir" suggests the notion of an unexpected or sudden acquisition of ownership, often resulting from the passing of an individual who did not specifically designate a recipient for their belongings in a will or other legal document. Consequently, the expression implies a sense of accidental, unplanned, or fortuitous succession.
When someone "fell heir" to an estate or possessions, it means that they have unexpectedly become the rightful owner, by default, due to being the closest surviving relative or next in line to inherit. Alternatively, in a broader sense, "fell heir" can also refer to inheriting non-material things such as traits, characteristics, or responsibilities.
For instance, in a sentence, one could say, "After his father's unexpected demise, he suddenly fell heir to the family business and became its new owner." Here, the phrase highlights the unforeseen transfer of ownership and the individual's sudden responsibility for managing the business.
Overall, "fell heir" signifies taking ownership or assuming control of something due to an unforeseen or accidental circumstance, mainly in the context of inheritance or succession.
Common Misspellings for FELL HEIR
- fall heir
- dell heir
- cell heir
- vell heir
- gell heir
- tell heir
- rell heir
- fdll heir
- frll heir
- f4ll heir
- f3ll heir
- fekl heir
- fepl heir
- feol heir
- felk heir
- felp heir
- felo heir
- fell geir
- fell beir
- fell neir
Etymology of FELL HEIR
The phrase "fell heir" is derived from the Old English word "heir", which is a combination of the Old Norse word "arfr" and the Old English prefix "ge-", which denotes possession. "Arfr" means "heir" or “inheritance” in Old Norse. Over time, the word "heir" in English developed to signify someone who inherits property or title from someone who has died. The word "fell" in this context is an archaic term meaning "to become the owner of" or "to succeed to". Therefore, "fell heir" refers to the act of inheriting property, title, or rights from someone who has passed away.
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