BEQUEST

bequest, legacy

(noun) (law) a gift of personal property by will

Source: WordNet® 3.1

Etymology 1

Noun

bequest (plural bequests)

The act of bequeathing or leaving by will.

The transfer of property upon the owner's death according to the will of the deceased.

That which is left by will; a legacy.

That which has been handed down or transmitted.

A person's inheritance; an amount of property given by will.

Synonyms

• bequeathal

• legacy

• gift

• donation

Etymology 2

Verb

bequest (third-person singular simple present bequests, present participle bequesting, simple past and past participle bequested)

(transitive) To give as a bequest; bequeath.

Source: Wiktionary

Be*quest", n. Etym: [OE. biquest, corrupted fr. bequide; pref. be- + AS. cwide a saying, becwe to bequeath. The ending -est is probably due to confusion with quest. See Bequeath, Quest.]

1. The act of bequeathing or leaving by will; as, a bequest of property by A. to B.

2. That which is left by will, esp. personal property; a legacy; also, a gift.

Be*quest", v. t.

Definition: To bequeath, or leave as a legacy. [Obs.] "All I have to bequest." Gascoigne.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition