Legat, Verfügung des Erblassers durch Testament oder Erbvertrag über einzelne Nachlaßgegenstände zugunsten von Personen, die nicht zu Erben eingesetzt sind.
ETYM Old Eng. biquest, corrupted from bequide; pref. be- + AS. cwide a saying, becwethan to bequeath. The ending -est is probably due to confusion with quest. Related to Bequeath, Quest.
(Law) A gift of personal property by will; SYN. legacy.
ETYM Latin (assumed) legatia, for legatum, from legare to appoint by last will, to bequeath as a legacy, to depute: cf. Old Fren. legat legacy. Related to Legate.
1. A gift left to one's descendants.
2. A gift or standard left to those who remain after one leaves.
In law, a gift of personal property made by a testator in a will and transferred on the testator’s death to the legatee. Specific legacies are definite named objects; a general legacy is a sum of money or item not specially identified; a residuary legacy is all the remainder of the deceased’s personal estate after debts have been paid and the other legacies have been distributed.