levirate

levirate

4 senses · Free VividLex dictionary · Thesaurus

1. a. Alt. of Leviratical Source: opted
2. n. the biblical institution whereby a man must marry the widow of his childless brother in order to maintain the brother's line Source: wordnet
3. Of, pertaining to, or in accordance with, a law of the ancient Israelites and other tribes and races, according to which a woman, whose husband died without issue, was married to the husband's brother. The firstborn son of a leviratical marriage was reckoned and registered as the son of the deceased brother. Alford. Source: webster
4. n. the biblical institution whereby a man must marry the widow of his childless brother in order to maintain the brother's line Source: ecdict

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