I.gen. plur. hereditatium, Cic. Dom. 15, 35; Inscr. Orell. 107 al.; “but usu. hereditatum,” Cic. Verr. 2, 3, 7, § 16; id. Agr. 1, 3, 8), f. heres, heirship, inheritance.
I. Abstr.: “hereditas est successio in universum jus, quod defunctus habebat tempore mortis,” Dig. 50, 16, 24: “si istiusmodi mi fundus hereditate obvenerit,” Varr. R. R. 1, 12, 2; Plin. 17, 1, 1, § 4; cf.: “quoniam habes istum equum, aut emeris oportet aut hereditate possideas aut, etc. ... sed neque emisti, neque hereditate venit, neque, etc.,” Cic. Inv. 1, 45, 84: “de hereditatibus,” Gai. Inst. 2, 99 sqq.; 3, 1 sqq.—
II. Concr., an inheritance (cf. patrimonium).
A. Lit.: “hereditas est pecunia, quae morte alicujus ad quempiam pervenit jure, nec ea aut legata testamento aut possessione retenta,” Cic. Top. 6, 29: “si qua mihi obtigerit hereditas magna atque luculenta,” Plaut. Truc. 2, 3, 23; cf.: “cum ejus filio hereditas a propinquo permagna venisset,” Cic. Verr. 2, 1, 10, § 27: “de hereditate ea, quae pupillo venit,” id. Inv. 2, 21, 62: “hereditates mihi negasti venire,” id. Phil. 2, 16, 40: “communem hereditatem concedere,” id. Fl. 36, 89: “mentio hereditatum ... hereditatem adire,” id. Phil. 2, 16, 42: “adire hereditatem,” id. Rosc. Com. 18, 55: “obire,” id. Agr. 1, 3, 8: “cernere,” id. Att. 11, 2, 1; id. Agr. 2, 15, 40; cf. “cerno: capere ab aliquo,” id. Caecin. 35, 102: “usurpare,” Tac. A. 2, 19 fin.: “acquirere, repudiare, omittere,” Dig. 24, 3, 58: “tradere alicui,” Cic. Off. 1, 33, 121: “transmittere alicui,” Plin. Ep. 8, 18, 7: “quem nisi in via caducae hereditates retardassent,” i. e. that fall to heirs who have children, Cic. Phil. 10, 5, 11; v. caducus.—Prov.: hereditas sine sacris, i. e. a great advantage without trouble, without expense (because the maintaining of the sacred family rites was attended with great expense), Plaut. Capt. 4, 1, 8; id. Trin. 2, 4, 83; cf. Fest. p. 290 Müll.—
B. Trop.: “a quo quidem rei familiaris ad paucos, cupiditatum ad multos improbos venit hereditas,” Cic. Off. 2, 8, 28: “hereditas hujus gloriae,” id. ib. 1, 22, 78; cf.: “optima hereditas a patribus traditur liberis omnique patrimonio praestantior gloria virtutis rerumque gestarum,” id. ib. 1, 33, 121 fin.: “paternae scientiae,” Just. 36, 2.
