Bequest \Be*quest"\, n. [OE. biquest, corrupted fr. bequide;
   pref. be- + AS. cwide a saying, becwe[eth]an to bequeath. The
   ending -est is probably due to confusion with quest. See
   Bequeath, Quest.]
   1. The act of bequeathing or leaving by will; as, a bequest
      of property by A. to B.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. That which is left by will, esp. personal property; a
      legacy; also, a gift.
      [1913 Webster]

	

	Bequest \Be*quest"\, v. t.
   To bequeath, or leave as a legacy. [Obs.] "All I have to
   bequest." --Gascoigne.
   [1913 Webster]

	

	bequest
    n 1: (law) a gift of personal property by will [syn: bequest,
         legacy]

	

	31 Moby Thesaurus words for "bequest":
   attested copy, bequeathal, birthright, borough-English, codicil,
   coheirship, coparcenary, devise, entail, gavelkind, heirloom,
   heirship, hereditament, heritable, heritage, heritance,
   incorporeal hereditament, inheritance, law of succession, legacy,
   line of succession, mode of succession, patrimony,
   postremogeniture, primogeniture, probate, reversion, succession,
   testament, ultimogeniture, will

	

	BEQUEST. A gift by last will or testament; a legacy. (q. v.) This word is 
sometimes, though improperly used, as synonymous with devise. There is, 
however, a distinction between them. A bequest is applied, more properly, to 
a gift by will of a legacy, that is, of personal property; devise is 
properly a gift by testament of real property. Vide Devise.