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n. pl. he·red·i·ties 1. The genetic transmission of characteristics from parent to offspring. 2. The sum of characteristics and associated potentialities transmitted genetically to an individual organism. [French hérédité, from Old French heredite, inheritance, from Latin hērēditās, from hērēs, hērēd-, heir; see ghē- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.] |
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