héritées

Héritées is the feminine plural form of the participle hériter, and is commonly used to mean "inherited" when describing feminine plural nouns, as in fortunes héritées. The standard noun for a female heir is héritière, with its plural héritières. While héritées can appear in phrases describing things that have been inherited, it is less often used as a standalone noun.

Étymologie and form: the verb hériter originates from Old French and ultimately from Latin heres, meaning heir. The feminine noun héritière and the feminine plural héritières denote women who inherit, while the feminine plural participle héritées describes objects or fortunes that have been inherited.

Usage in law and society: in historical inheritance systems, succession often favored male heirs through primogeniture, but daughters could become héritées when no sons existed or through male- or female-led wills. In contemporary legal regimes, many jurisdictions employ gender-neutral rules or provide equal rights to heirs, though family agreements and cultural expectations can still influence outcomes. The term héritées therefore intersects language, law, and social practice, reflecting both inherited status and the act of passing property to the next generation.

Cultural depictions: in literature and media, heiresses appear as a common archetype—women who manage large fortunes, navigate social obligations, or pursue autonomy and romance within or against family wealth. The word thus echoes themes of lineage, responsibility, and the stewardship of wealth across generations.

See also: heiress, inheritance, succession.