Word To Use Today: levirate.

English is the biggest language in the world, but that means that there are a lot of words which serve very little purpose.

Such a one is levirate.

I suppose one might say the practice of levirate is enough to fill any thinking man with horror. But that's about it.

So what is levirate?

Levirate is the law, as described in the Old Testament of the Bible (Deuteronomy 25) whereby a man is obliged to marry his brother's widow. (Mind you, to be fair, there's also a bit in the same book (Leviticus 18) which says he mustn't.)

Well, the imposition of a law like that would have changed the course of the English novel, wouldn't it? 

Sons and Lovers, anyone?

It'd certainly make this house a bit crowded.

Anyway, levirate. A word to be glad is no longer of any relevance whatsoever, I think.

Word To Use Today: levirate. This word comes from the Latin lēvir, a husband's brother.