levirate
/ˈlɛvɪrət/
noun
- A custom or law in some cultures requiring a man to marry his deceased brother's widow.
- The practice of levirate is mentioned in several historical and religious texts.
- Anthropologists study levirate as a way to understand family structures in early societies.
- In ancient times, levirate ensured that the widow and her children would be cared for.
adjective
- Relating to or involving the custom of a man marrying his deceased brother's widow.
- The old law had a levirate clause that applied when a man died without a male heir.
- Many scholars have written about levirate traditions in the Middle East.
- The levirate marriage was arranged to keep property within the family.