levirate

noun

le·​vi·​rate ˈle-və-rət How to pronounce levirate (audio) ˈlē- How to pronounce levirate (audio)
-ˌrāt
: the sometimes compulsory marriage of a widow to a brother of her deceased husband
leviratic
ˌle-və-ˈra-tik How to pronounce levirate (audio)
ˌlē-
adjective

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

1725, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of levirate was in 1725

Rhymes for levirate

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Browse Nearby Words

Levine
levirate
Lévis
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Cite this Entry

“Levirate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/levirate. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on levirate

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about levirate

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