Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Passed along from generation to generation: Describes something, such as a story, tradition, object, or piece of knowledge, that has been transmitted from one person or group to another over time, often within a family or community.
   • Received from a predecessor: Refers to an interpretation, custom, or item that is not original but has been accepted and passed on by successive individuals.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • The quilt is a handed-down family heirloom.
  • They follow handed-down traditions from their ancestors.
  • Among scholars, a handed-down interpretation is one received from earlier commentators.

Advanced Usage

• "handed-down wisdom": Knowledge or advice that has been passed through generations.
  • She relied on the handed-down wisdom of her grandmother.
• In academic/religious contexts: Often used to describe interpretations or texts transmitted through a chain of scholars.
  • The handed-down manuscript contained marginal notes from centuries of scribes.

Variants and Related Words

• Hand down (phrasal verb): To transmit or bequeath something to a successor.
  • The judge will hand down a verdict tomorrow. (This is a different, though related, usage meaning to formally announce a decision.)
  • He plans to hand down his watch to his son.
• Hand-me-down (noun): An item, especially clothing, passed on from one person to another.
  • As the youngest, she always wore her sister's hand-me-downs.

Synonyms

• Traditional: Long-established or inherited.
• Hereditary: Passed on from one's ancestors.
• Tralatitious (formal, rare): Passed down or transmitted, especially of interpretations.

Antonyms

• Original: Created directly and not imitated.
• Innovative: Featuring new methods; advanced and original.

Related Phrases

• Passed down: A more common phrase with the same meaning.
  • These recipes have been passed down for generations.
• Handed on: Similar to "handed down," emphasizing transmission.
  • The legend was handed on orally.

Adjective

1. having been passed along from generation to generation
   • among Biblical critics a tralatitious interpretation is one received by expositor from expositor