Lat. In the civil lgw. A coming in place of another, on hls decease; a coming into the estate which a deceased person had at the time of his death. This was either by virtue of an express appoint-ment of the deceased person by bis will, (ex testamento,) or by tbe general appointment of law in case of intestacy, (ab intestato.) InsL 2, 9, 7; Heinecc. Elem. lib. 2, tit. 10
Source: Black's Law Dictionary 2nd Ed (1910)
