Refine this word faster

Stronger alternatives Opposite tone Use in context Cross-language nuance

Levirate

//ˈlɛvɪɹət// adj, noun

Definitions

Adjective

1
Having to do with one's husband's brother. not-comparable

Noun

1
A marriage between a widow and her deceased husband's brother or, sometimes, heir. countable
2
the biblical institution whereby a man must marry the widow of his childless brother in order to maintain the brother's line wordnet
3
The institution of levirate marriage.
"And it is, he says, impossible not to believe that the Levirate—that is, the practice of marrying a dead brother's widow—is derived from polyandry."

Etymology

Etymology 1

From Latin lēvir (“husband's brother, brother-in-law”) + -ate (adjective-forming suffix), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *dayh₂wḗr (“one's brother-in-law”).

Etymology 2

From Latin lēvir (“husband's brother, brother-in-law”) + -ate (adjective-forming suffix), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *dayh₂wḗr (“one's brother-in-law”).

Next best steps

Find stronger synonyms See usage examples Check pronunciation

Mini challenge

Unscramble this word: levirate