entail

[en-teyl, en-teyl, en-teyl]

verb (used with object)

1. to cause or involve by necessity or as a consequence.

   a loss entailing no regret.

2. to impose as a burden.

   Success entails hard work.

3. Law.,  to limit the passage of (real estate) to a specified line of heirs, so that it cannot be transferred or bequeathed to anyone else.

4. Law.,  to cause (anything) to descend to a fixed series of possessors.

noun

1. the act of entailing.

2. Law.,  the state of being entailed.

3. any predetermined order of succession, as to an office.

4. Law.,  something that is entailed, as an estate.

5. Law.,  the rule of descent settled for an estate.

entail

/ ɪnˈteɪl /

verb

1. to bring about or impose by necessity; have as a necessary consequence

   this task entails careful thought

2. property law to restrict (the descent of an estate) to a designated line of heirs

3. logic to have as a necessary consequence

noun

1. property law

   1. the restriction imposed by entailing an estate

   2. an estate that has been entailed

Other Word Forms

• entailer noun
• entailment noun
• preentail verb (used with object)

Word History and Origins

Origin of entail¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; from Middle English entailen (verb), entail (noun), equivalent to en- ¹ + tail ² ( def. )

Word History and Origins

Origin of entail¹

C14: entaillen , from _en- ¹ + taille limitation, _tail ²

Example Sentences

I do not need to repeat these details here, other than to note that they inevitably entailed a considerable degree of complexity.

From BBC

That entails “sweet, thoughtful gifts,” flowers and baked goods for everyone.

From Los Angeles Times

No one ever goes back and examines loan applications on performing loans for occupancy fraud; that would entail expenses for no benefit.

From Los Angeles Times

Starting again with a new manager with all the upheaval and financial cost entailed or giving their chosen one more time - maybe a lot more time - to build something decent?

From BBC

He said he had tried and failed to get a clear definition of DEI and what it entailed.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• bring about 
• call for 
• encompass 
• involve 
• lead to www.thesaurus.com
• necessitate 
• require