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hereditary

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hereditary

Pronunciation

Here's the IPA phonetic spelling of "hereditary" with a breakdown of the sounds in each syllable:

həˈɹɛdɪt(ə)ɹi (This is for General American English)

  • he (hə):

    • Unstressed vowel sound like the "uh" in "but"

  • re (ˈɹɛ):

    • Stressed vowel sound like the "e" in "red"

  • di (dɪ):

    • D sound

    • Short "i" sound like the "i" in "bit"

  • ta (t(ə)):

    • T sound

    • Optional schwa sound (a very short, neutral vowel sound)

  • ry (ɹi):

    • R sound

    • Short "i" sound like the "i" in "bit"

Word Form Variations

The word "hereditary" itself doesn't have variations for singular and plural because it's not a noun. It's an adjective describing something. However, "hereditary" does have some related word forms:

  • Adverb: hereditally (describes how something is inherited)

  • Noun: hereditariness (the quality of being inherited)

  • Opposite adjective (informal): non**-hereditary

  • Less common adjective: quasi-hereditary** (partially or seemingly inherited)

Definitions, Synonyms, Antonyms

Adjective:

  • Definition: Passed down from parent to offspring through genes. (This is the most common definition)

    • Synonyms: genetic, inherited, transmittable, familial

    • Antonyms: acquired, non-hereditary (informal)

  • Definition: (Less common) Established by tradition or custom.

    • Synonyms: traditional, ancestral

    • Antonyms: new, innovative

Noun:

  • Definition: The tendency for a characteristic or condition to be passed down through genes.

    • Synonyms: heritability, genetic inheritance

    • Antonyms: non-hereditary nature (awkward but conveys the opposite meaning)

Adverb:

  • Definition: In a way that is passed down through genes.

    • Synonyms: genetically, hereditarily (more formal)

    • Antonyms: non-hereditarily (awkward but conveys the opposite meaning)

Note: There are no verb forms for "hereditary."

Examples of Use

1. Science Book:

  • "Certain eye colour variations are hereditary traits determined by specific genes." (Biology textbook)

2. Newspaper Article:

  • "A new study explores the link between hereditary factors and the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease." (The New York Times) [Newspapers often use "hereditary" when discussing genetic links to diseases]

3. Online Publication:

  • "Hereditary baldness is a common condition affecting both men and women." (WebMD)

4. Entertainment Media:

  • Movie Title: "Hereditary" (2018 horror film explores themes of hereditary curses)

  • TV Show Dialogue: "My hereditary baking skills finally came in handy!" (Sitcom scene)

5. Public Discourse:

  • "There's a strong hereditary component to athletic ability, but training also plays a big role." (Conversation between athletes)

  • "The royal family prides itself on its hereditary lineage." (Discussion about monarchies)

10 Famous Quotes Using the term Hereditary

Finding famous quotes directly using "hereditary" is a bit challenging because the word itself can be a mouthful and might be rephrased for conciseness. However, here are ten quotes that capture the essence of inheritance, genetics, or tradition, which are all closely linked to the concept of "hereditary":

  1. "Like father, like son" (Proverb) - This proverb directly implies the passing down of traits from parent to child.

  2. "Genius is hereditary, insanity is hereditary; good looks aren't hereditary." (George Bernard Shaw) - This quote uses "hereditary" in a humorous way for both positive and negative traits.

  3. "Blood will tell." (Charles Dickens, "Bleak House") - This quote suggests that family background and inherent qualities are passed down.

  4. "You can inherit a fortune, but you can't inherit culture." (Anna Quindlen) - This quote highlights the difference between physical inheritance and learned traditions.

  5. "The sins of the father are visited upon the children." (Exodus 20:5) - This quote, though religious, speaks to the idea of consequences being passed down through generations.

  6. "We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors; we borrow it from our children." (Native American Proverb) - This quote emphasises the responsibility of preserving what is inherited.

  7. "The history of a nation is found in its proverbs." (Nina Garcia) - This quote suggests that traditional sayings ("proverbs") carry a form of inherited wisdom.

  8. "Tradition is not the worship of ashes, but the preservation of fire." (Thomas More) - This quote underscores the importance of keeping the spirit of tradition alive while adapting to change.

  9. "A horse is a horse, of course, of course, and no amount of talking can make it a giraffe." (W.H. Auden) - This playful quote uses absurdity to highlight the limitations of changing inherent nature (though not directly using "hereditary").

  10.  "Innovation distinguishes between a leader and a follower." (Steve Jobs) - This quote emphasises the importance of breaking away from established traditions (opposite of "hereditary") to create something new.

Etymology

The word "hereditary" is like a family story passed down through languages! Here's the breakdown:

  • Origin: The word comes from Latin, specifically the word "hērēditās" which means "inheritance" or "succession to an heir."

  • First Use: Around the 15th century in English, "hereditary" popped up for the first time. Back then, it meant exactly what it does today - something that's passed down from parents to their children.

  • Breakdown of the Word: "Hereditary" is a combination of two parts:

    • "Hered" comes from the Latin "hērēdit-" which is related to "heir."

    • "-ary" is a suffix added to many words to mean "of or relating to." So, "hereditary" literally means "of or relating to inheritance."

So, next time you hear "hereditary," remember it's all about things that get passed down through families, like genes or even traditions!

Phrases + Idioms Containing the term Hereditary

  • While "hereditary" itself isn't used in many idioms, here are some phrases that use the word and capture similar ideas of inheritance:

    • Hereditary disease/condition: This refers to a medical issue that gets passed down through genes from parents to offspring. (e.g., "Cystic fibrosis is a hereditary disease.")

    • Hereditary traits: These are physical characteristics or tendencies inherited from parents, like eye colour or athletic ability. (e.g., "Her musical talent seems to be a hereditary trait in her family.")

    • Hereditary monarchy/title: This describes a system where positions of power or titles are passed down through families, like a king to his son. (e.g., "The British monarchy is a hereditary system.")

    • Have a hereditary knack for something: This means someone has a natural talent or ability that seems to run in their family. (e.g., "She seems to have a hereditary knack for languages.")

    • Run in the family: This is a more informal way of saying something is hereditary. (e.g., "Tallness seems to run in my family.")

    • Born with a silver spoon in their mouth: This idiom refers to someone born into wealth and privilege, which could be considered a form of inheritance. (e.g., "They were born with a silver spoon in their mouth and never had to work hard.")

    • Skeletons in the closet: This idiom refers to hidden family secrets or negative aspects that might be considered "inherited" burdens. (e.g., "Every family has skeletons in the closet.")

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Source Information

Definition of hereditary from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.