Word a Day
hereditary
What does hereditary mean?
hereditary (adjective): of a disease or trait: passed from a parent to offspring in the genes.
Definition: Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.
How do you pronounce hereditary?
/həˈɹɛdəˌtɛɹi/ (IPA, American English). The app reads every word aloud.
Where does hereditary come from?
Inherited from Middle English hereditarie, from Latin hērēditārius, from hērēditās (“inheritance”), from hērēs (“heir”).
Etymology: Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Test yourself: do you know “hereditary”?
Tap an answer to check it. The same questions the app asks.
What does “hereditary” mean?
allowing little light to pass through, not translucent or transparent
Not quite: that's what opaque means.
without rest; unable to be still or quiet; uneasy; continually moving
Not quite: that's what restless means.
of a disease or trait: passed from a parent to offspring in the genes
Right! That's what “hereditary” means.
adhering to whatever is customary, traditional, or generally accepted
Not quite: that's what orthodox means.
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