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primogeniture |
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The status of being the firstborn child among several children of the same parents. A rule of inheritance at Common Law through which the oldest male child has the right to succeed to the estate of an ancestor to the exclusion of younger siblings, both male and female, as well as other relatives. primogeniture n. Latin for "first born," the ancient rule from feudal England (except in the County of Kent) that the oldest son would inherit the entire estate of his parents (or nearest ancestor), and, if there was no male heir, the daughters would take (receive the property) in equal shares. The intent was to preserve larger properties from being broken up into small holdings, which might weaken the power of nobles. It does not exist in the United States. See also: birthright PRIMOGENITURE. The state of being first born the eldest.
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| In the naming of younger sons, the cognatic element of kinship structure was sometimes expressed (Hanson 1989a: 82; see table 1, above). Instead, the works express a bilinear, cognatic image of the family, indicating legal, economic, and affective ties between mothers and sons. ROUSSEAU'S MAIN THESIS in this fascinating book is that religion among the Kayan, a swidden, cognatic population living in central Borneo, is closely interconnected with the social system, which Kayan religion both justifies and supports. |
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