damnosa hereditas

noun

dam·​no·​sa he·​re·​di·​tas

variants or damnosa haereditas

dam¦nōsəhəˈredə̇ˌtas

1

Roman law : an inheritance from a person who dies insolvent and whose debts the heir is bound to discharge

2

: a harmful or burdensome inheritance

a damnosa hereditas from an imperfectly socialized … condition

—Times Literary Supplement

Word History

Etymology

Latin, literally, damaging inheritance

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