heir

n. [ OE. heir, eir, hair, OF. heir, eir, F. hoir, L. heres; of uncertain origin. Cf. Hereditary, Heritage. ] 1. One who inherits, or is entitled to succeed to the possession of, any property after the death of its owner; one on whom the law bestows the title or property of another at the death of the latter. [ 1913 Webster ]

I am my father's heir and only son. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. One who receives any endowment from an ancestor or relation; as, the heir of one's reputation or virtues. [ 1913 Webster ]

And I his heir in misery alone. Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]

Heir apparent. (Law.) See under Apparent. --
Heir at law, one who, after his ancector's death, has a right to inherit all his intestate estate. Wharton (Law Dict.). --
Heir presumptive, one who, if the ancestor should die immediately, would be his heir, but whose right to the inheritance may be defeated by the birth of a nearer relative, or by some other contingency. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The state of an heir; succession by inheritance. Burke. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A female heir. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Destitute of an heir. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Heir + loom, in its earlier sense of implement, tool. See Loom the frame. ] Any furniture, movable, or personal chattel, which by law or special custom descends to the heir along with the inheritance; any piece of personal property that has been in a family for several generations. [ 1913 Webster ]

Woe to him whose daring hand profanes
The honored heirlooms of his ancestors. Moir. [ 1913 Webster ]