levirate
[ lev-er-it, -uh-reyt, lee-ver-it, -vuh-reyt ]
/ ˈlɛv ər ɪt, -əˌreɪt, ˈli vər ɪt, -vəˌreɪt /
noun
the custom of marriage by a man with his brother's widow, such marriage required in Biblical law if the deceased was childless. Deut. 25:5–10.
Origin of levirate
1715–25; < Latin
lēvir husband's brother (akin to Greek
dāḗr, Sanskrit
devar, Old English
tācor) +
-ate3
OTHER WORDS FROM levirate
lev·i·rat·ic [lev-uh-rat-ik, lee-vuh-] /ˌlɛv əˈræt ɪk, ˌli və-/, lev·i·rat·i·cal, adjectiveWords nearby levirate
levier,
levigate,
levin,
levin tube,
levine,
levirate,
levitate,
levitation,
levite,
leviter,
levitical
Example sentences from the Web for levirate
British Dictionary definitions for levirate
levirate
/ (ˈlɛvɪrɪt) /
noun
the practice, required by Old Testament law, of marrying the widow of one's brother
Derived forms of levirate
leviratic (ˌlɛvɪˈrætɪk) or leviratical, adjectiveWord Origin for levirate
C18: from Latin
lēvir a husband's brother