pupillary substitution

noun

Roman & civil Law
: the substitution by a father in his will of another heir for his own descendant instituted heir who is below the age of puberty and under the father's power for the purpose of having the substitute heir succeed to his own and the descendant's property if the descendant declines the inheritance or dies before attaining puberty when he could make his own will compare quasi-pupillary substitution

Word History

Etymology

translation of Latin substitutio pupillaris

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Cite this Entry

“Pupillary substitution.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pupillary%20substitution. Accessed 3 Dec. 2024.

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