Be‐queath″ (bē̍‐kwēt͡h″), v. t. [imp. & p. p.Bequeathed (�); p. pr. & vb. n.Bequeathing.] [OE. biquethen, AS. becweðan to say, affirm, bequeath; pref. be- + cweðan to say, speak. See Quoth.] 1. To give or leave by will; to give by testament; — said especially of personal property.
My heritage, which my dead father did bequeath to me.
Shak.
2. To hand down; to transmit.
To bequeath posterity somewhat to remember it.
Glanvill.
3. To give; to offer; to commit.
To whom, with all submission, on my knee
I do bequeath my faithful services
And true subjection everlastingly.
Shak.
Syn. — To Bequeath, Devise. Both these words denote the giving or disposing of property by will. Devise, in legal usage, is property used to denote a gift by will of real property, and he to whom it is given is called the devisee. Bequeath is properly applied to a gift by will or legacy; i.e., of personal property; the gift is called a legacy, and he who receives it is called a legatee. In popular usage the word bequeath is sometimes enlarged so as to embrace devise; and it is sometimes so construed by courts.