Obs. [ad. med.L. æsnecia, latinized form of OF. ainsneece (mod.Fr. aînesse, position of elder brother or sister, ad. med.L. *antenātitia, f. antenātus one born before another, f. ante before + nātus born.] ‘A private prerogative allowed to the eldest coparcener, where an estate is descended to daughters for want of an heir male, to choose first after the inheritance is divided’ (Wharton).
1607. in Cowel, Interpr.
1641. in Termes de la Ley, 144.
1721. in Bailey.
1823. in Crabb, Techniol. Dict.; and in mod. Dicts.
