1 levirate | Definition of levirate
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levirate

noun
le·​vi·​rate | \ ˈle-və-rət How to pronounce levirate (audio) , ˈlē-, -ˌrāt How to pronounce levirate (audio) \

Definition of levirate

: the sometimes compulsory marriage of a widow to a brother of her deceased husband

Other Words from levirate

leviratic \ ˌle-​və-​ˈra-​tik How to pronounce leviratic (audio) , ˌlē-​ \ adjective

First Known Use of levirate

1725, in the meaning defined above

History and Etymology for levirate

Latin levir husband's brother; akin to Old English tācor husband's brother, Greek daēr

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More from Merriam-Webster on levirate

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about levirate

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