Legal Definitions - eigne

EIGNE

Eigne is a word from Law French that has three meanings:

1. It refers to the eldest or first-born child.
2. It refers to a superior or prior title.
3. It refers to an estate that is entailed.

The word traditionally follows the noun it modifies in sense 1, for example, "bastard eigne," but precedes the noun in senses 2 and 3, for example, "eigne title."

The word can also be spelled as "eygne" or "aisne," and in Law Latin, it is known as "einetius."

• He is the eigne son of the family.
• The eigne title belongs to the eldest son.
• The estate is eigne, meaning it cannot be sold or transferred.

The first example illustrates the first meaning of eigne, which refers to the eldest or first-born child. The second example illustrates the second meaning of eigne, which refers to a superior or prior title. The third example illustrates the third meaning of eigne, which refers to an estate that is entailed and cannot be sold or transferred.