Heir and Heiress

While drinking a beer after our dinner, my daughter approached me and asked about Paris Hilton and her sister Nicky. I was a bit shocked because my five-year old girl was asking about a controversial celebrity of today. At first, I told myself I should guard the shows that she watches to protect her from idolizing Paris (good heavens, please!). However, I was stunned when she asked me that she's not after Paris. She just wanted to learn about the word that the media had attached to her. And that word is none other than "heiress".

I explained to my daughter that heiress is the female counterpart of the word "heir." This word pertains to a person who inherits some or all of the estate of a recently deceased person. I was halfway my explanation when she had her follow-up question as who can be an heir? So I told her that this legal successor is usually selected because they are related to the deceased person by direct bloodline, meaning a family member, or can be designated in a will or by a legal authority. After my explanation, she smiled and thanked me. She even kissed me before she went to her room. I just said to myself, "One day, you will become a heiress, too darling. I will make sure of that, Chesca."