deshered

Deshered is a rarely used English term meaning deprived of an inheritance, typically through a will or other testamentary instrument. In modern English, the more common term is disinherited; deshered usually appears in historical texts, legal translations, or as a loanword from French. The form deshered is sometimes encountered as the past participle or adjective describing a person who has been deprived of a share of an estate.

Etymology: The word derives from Old French desheriter, from des- indicating reversal and heriter to inherit, ultimately linked to Latin heres (heir). In English, the standard verb is disinherit, with past tense disinherited; deshered is a rare variant.

Legal context: Disinheriting a relative is accomplished through a will or testamentary instrument. In jurisdictions with free disposition of estates, a testator may leave assets to whom they choose, but even so, challenges can arise over testamentary capacity, undue influence, or fraud. Some legal systems impose a forced share or reserved portion for certain heirs, limiting the disinheritance of spouses or children. Other systems permit more complete disinheritance. The exact rules vary by jurisdiction and over time.

Usage notes: Deshered is primarily encountered in historical or translational contexts; contemporary English tends to prefer disinherited.

See also: Disinheritance, Inheritance, Will, Testament, Heir, Forced heirship.