Noun: patrimony 'pa-tru,mow-nee [N. Amer], pa-tri-mu-nee [Brit]
- An inheritance coming by right of birth (especially by primogeniture)
"As the eldest son, he claimed the estate as his patrimony";
- birthright
- A church endowment
"The ancient cathedral's patrimony included valuable land and artifacts"
Derived forms: patrimonies
Type of: endowment, endowment fund, heritage, inheritance
Encyclopedia: Patrimony