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

The Ultimate Dictionary Awaits

Expand your vocabulary and dive deeper into language with Merriam-Webster Unabridged.

  1. Expanded definitions
  2. Detailed etymologies
  3. Advanced search tools
  4. All ad-free

Discover what makes Merriam-Webster Unabridged the essential choice for true word lovers.

Start Your Free Trial Now

Dictionary Entries Near pupillary substitution

Cite this Entry

“Pupillary substitution.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pupillary%20substitution. Accessed 23 Dec. 2024.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!