noun
- plural of levirate; customs or laws requiring a man to marry his deceased brother’s widow
Usage: anthropological; historical
Examples
- The ancient Hebrew levirates ensured that widows would be cared for within the family structure.
- Anthropologists study various levirates across different cultures and time periods.
- These levirates were designed to preserve family lineage and property rights.
- The researcher documented several levirates practiced in traditional societies.
- Biblical scholars examine the levirates mentioned in Old Testament texts.