Emily Dickinson Lexicon

HE-RED'IT-A-RY, a. [Fr. hereditaire; It. ereditario. See Heir.]

1. That has descended from an ancestor. He is in possession of a large hereditary estate.
2. That may descend from an ancestor to an heir; descendible to an heir at law. The crown of Great Britain is hereditary.
3. That is or may be transmitted from a parent to a child; as, hereditary pride; hereditary bravery; hereditary disease.