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tanistry. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
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English
Etymology
From tanist + -ry.
Pronunciation
Noun
tanistry (usually uncountable, plural tanistries)
- (historical) A form of tenure, in ancient Scotland and Ireland, whereby succession was passed to an elected member of the same extended family.
2011, Norman Davies, Vanished Kingdoms, Penguin, published 2012, page 50:They also have to make allowance, in place of primogeniture, for the practice of tanistry, that is, the naming of a successor who was not necessarily the ruler's son.