hereditary

Etymology

From Latin hērēditārius, from hērēditās (“inheritance”), from hērēs (“heir”).

adj

1. Passed on as an inheritance, by last will or intestate.
2. Of a title, honor or right: legally granted to somebody's descendant after that person's death.
   Duke is a hereditary title which was created in Norman times.
3. Of a person: holding a legally hereditary title or rank.
   hereditary rulers
4. Of a disease or trait: passed from a parent to offspring in the genes.
   Haemophilia is hereditary in his family.
5. (mathematics) Of a ring: such that all submodules of projective modules over the ring are also projective.

noun

1. A hereditary ruler; a hereditary peer in the House of Lords.