heir apparent
 有確定繼承權的人


 Ap·par·ent a.
 1. Capable of being seen, or easily seen; open to view; visible to the eye; within sight or view.
    The moon . . . apparent queen.   --Milton.
 2. Clear or manifest to the understanding; plain; evident; obvious; known; palpable; indubitable.
    It is apparent foul play.   --Shak.
 3. Appearing to the eye or mind (distinguished from, but not necessarily opposed to, true or real); seeming; as the apparent motion or diameter of the sun.
    To live on terms of civility, and even of apparent friendship.   --Macaulay.
    What Berkeley calls visible magnitude was by astronomers called apparent magnitude.   --Reid.
 Apparent horizon, the circle which in a level plain bounds our view, and is formed by the apparent meeting of the earth and heavens, as distinguished from the rational horizon.
 Apparent time. See Time.
 Heir apparent Law, one whose to an estate is indefeasible if he survives the ancestor; -- in distinction from presumptive heir. See Presumptive.
 Syn: -- Visible; distinct; plain; obvious; clear; certain; evident; manifest; indubitable; notorious.


 Heir n.
 1. One who inherits, or is entitled to succeed to the possession of, any property after the death of its owner; one on whom the law bestows the title or property of another at the death of the latter.
    I am my father's heir and only son.   --Shak.
 2. One who receives any endowment from an ancestor or relation; as, the heir of one's reputation or virtues.
    And I his heir in misery alone.   --Pope.
 Heir apparent. Law. See under Apparent.
 Heir at law, one who, after his ancector's death, has a right to inherit all his intestate estate. --Wharton (Law Dict.).
 Heir presumptive, one who, if the ancestor should die immediately, would be his heir, but whose right to the inheritance may be defeated by the birth of a nearer relative, or by some other contingency.


 heir apparent
      n : an heir whose right to an inheritance cannot be defeated if
          that person outlives the ancestor [ant: heir presumptive]