1530s, from Middle French hérédité (12c.), from Latin hereditatem (nominative hereditas) "heirship, inheritance, condition of being an heir," from heres (genitive heredis) "heir, heiress," from PIE root *ghe- "to be empty, left behind" (source also of Greek khera "widow"). Legal sense of "inheritable quality or character" first recorded 1784; the modern biological sense seems to be found first in 1863, introduced by Herbert Spencer.
雙語例句
1. the debate over the effects of heredity and environment
有關遺傳與環境影響的辯論
來自《權威詞典》
2. Radiation has a strong effect on the heredity of fruit flies.
射線對于果蠅的遺傳產生強烈的作用.
來自《簡明英漢詞典》
3. Do heredity and environment determine a man's character?
遺傳和環境決定一個人的性格 嗎 ?
來自《簡明英漢詞典》
4. Some diseases are present by heredity.
有些病是遺傳的結果.
來自《現代漢英綜合大詞典》
5. Diet and exercise can influence a person's weight, but heredity is also a factor.