tr.v. en·tailed, en·tail·ing, en·tails 1. To have, impose, or require as a necessary accompaniment or consequence: The investment entailed a high risk. The proposition X is a rose entails the proposition X is a flower because all roses are flowers. 2. To limit the inheritance of (property) to a specified succession of heirs. 3. To bestow or impose on a person or a specified succession of heirs. n. 1. a. The act of entailing, especially property. b. The state of being entailed. 2. An entailed estate. 3. A predetermined order of succession, as to an estate or to an office. 4. Something transmitted as if by unalterable inheritance. [Middle English entaillen, to limit inheritance to specific heirs : en-, intensive pref.; see EN-1 + taille, tail; see TAIL2.] en·tailment n. |
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