The biblical institution whereby a man must marry the widow of his childless brother in order to maintain the brother's line.

Roget 903: marriage, matrimony, wedlock, union, intermarriage, miscegenation, the bonds of marriage, vinculum matrimonii [Lat.], nuptial tie.    married state, coverture, bed, cohabitation.    match; betrothment etc. (promise) 768; wedding, nuptials, Hymen, bridal; espousals, spousals; leading to the altar etc. v.; nuptial benediction, epithalamium^†; sealing.    torch of Hymen, temple of Hymen; hymeneal altar; honeymoon.    bridesmaid, bridesman^†, best man; bride, bridegroom.    married man, married woman, married couple; neogamist^†, Benedict, partner, spouse, mate, yokemate^†; husband, man, consort, baron; old man, good man; wife of one's bosom; helpmate, rib, better half, gray mare, old woman, old lady, good wife, goodwife.    feme [Fr.], feme coverte [Fr.]; squaw, lady; matron, matronage, matronhood^†; man and wife; wedded pair, Darby and Joan; spiritual wife.    monogamy, bigamy, digamy^†, deuterogamy^†, trigamy^†, polygamy; mormonism; levirate^†; spiritual wifery^†, spiritual wifeism^†; polyandrism^†; Turk, bluebeard^†.    unlawful marriage, left-handed marriage, morganatic marriage, ill-assorted marriage; mesalliance; mariage de convenance [Fr.].    marriage broker; matrimonial agency, matrimonial agent, matrimonial bureau, matchmaker; schatchen [G.].    ... show more

Polish: lewirat