n., pl., -nies.
- An inheritance from a father or other ancestor.
- An inheritance or legacy; heritage.
- An endowment or estate belonging to an institution, especially a church.
[Middle English, from Old French patrimoine, from Latin patrimōnium, from pater, patr-, father.]
patrimonial pat'ri·mo'ni·al adj.patrimonially pat'ri·mo'ni·al·ly adv.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
