- esnecy
- noun
(-es)
Etymology: Medieval Latin esnescia, aisnecia, from Old French ainsnesse, from ainsné eldest, firstborn + -esse -ess — more at eigneEnglish law, obsolete : a prerogative of the eldest coparcener to choose first after an inheritance is divided
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/es"neuh see/, n. Obs. (in English law)the right of the oldest member of a coparcenary to have first choice of share upon division of the inheritance.[1600-10; < ML aesnecia, Latinization of OF ainsneece, ainsnesse position of an older brother or sister, deriv. of ainsne elder (cf. L antenatus (one) born before another)]* * *
esnecy /esˈnə-si/ (obsolete)nounThe eldest daughter's right of first choice in dividing an inheritanceORIGIN: OFr ainsneece (Fr aînesse)* * *
† ˈesnecy Obs.[ad. med.L. æsnecia, latinized form of OF. ainsneece (mod.Fr. aînesse) position of elder brother or sister, ad. med.L. *antenātitia, f. antenātus one born before another, f. ante before + nātus born.]‘A private prerogative allowed to the eldest coparcener, where an estate is descended to daughters for want of an heir male, to choose first after the inheritance is divided’ (Wharton).in J. Cowell Interpr. in Termes de la Ley 144. in Bailey. in Crabbe Techniol. Dict.; and in mod. Dicts.
Useful english dictionary. 2012.