[f. CO- 3 c + HEIR; cf. L. cohērēs, OF. cohoir (Godefroy).] One who participates in an inheritance; a joint heir.
1532. [see c].
1570. Levins, Manip., 203/1. A coheyre, cohæres.
1606. Holland, Sueton., 127. Tiberius … had adioyned coheire unto him another of his Nephews under age.
1741. Middleton, Cicero, II. XI. 509. Coheir in part of his Uncle’s estate.
1818. Cruise, Digest (ed. 2), III. 214. The petitioner was one of the coheirs of John Lord Botetourt.
1861. Maine, Anc. Law, vi. 181. A group of persons, considered in law as a single unit, might succeed as co-heirs to the Inheritance.
b. said of a woman: a COHEIRESS.
1586. Ferne, Lacies Nobilitie, 68. His wife … being the cousen, and one of the coheyres to VVilliam Romary Earle of Lincolne.
1611. Shaks., Wint. T., II. i. 148. I haue three daughters:… they are co-heyres.
c. 1710. Celia Fiennes, Diary (1888), 57. A Coe heir.
1866. Sir B. Burke, Dormant & Ext. Peerages, 293/1. Alice, one of the daughters and co-heirs of Hugh de Bolebec.
c. fig. (Frequently as a translation of συγκληρονόμοι in Romans viii. 17.)
1532. More, Confut. Tindale, Wks. 700/1. Heires of god, coheires of Christ.
1650. Jer. Taylor, Holy Living, ii. § 3 (1676), 67–8 (J.). All … coheirs in the inheritance of Jesus.
Hence Coheirship.
1608. Hieron, Defence, III. 3. The Princely and glorious coheirship purchased for them by Christ.
1818. Cruise, Digest (ed. 2), III. 210. It falls into abeyance … during the continuance of the coheirship.
1866. Pall Mall Gaz., 21 Feb., 9/2. The abeyance of an ancient barony was terminated in favour of a gentleman in whom ‘one-fourth of a third of the coheirship’ of it vested.
