léguer

"Léguer" is a French verb that primarily means "to bequeath" or "to leave" something to someone, typically in a will. It is most commonly used in the context of inheritance and estate planning. When someone légue something, they are transferring ownership or possession of that item, property, or asset to another person after their death. The recipient of the bequeathed item is known as the légataire or legatee.

The verb "léguer" comes from the Latin word "legare," which also means "to bequeath." It is an irregular verb, and its conjugation follows a specific pattern in French. For example, the past participle is "légué," and the present participle is "léguant." The verb is often used with the preposition "à" to indicate the recipient of the bequeathed item, as in "il a légué sa maison à son fils" (he bequeathed his house to his son).

In addition to its primary meaning, "léguer" can also be used more broadly to mean "to pass on" or "to hand down" something, not necessarily through a will. For example, someone might léguer their knowledge or skills to the next generation. However, this usage is less common and can sometimes be ambiguous.

It is important to note that "léguer" is not the same as "hériter," which means "to inherit." While "léguer" refers to the act of giving something to someone in a will, "hériter" refers to the act of receiving something from someone's estate. Therefore, the légataire is the one who hérite from the testator or person who has légué the item.