Lat. In the civil law. A legacy; a gift left by a deceased person, to be executed by the heir. Inst. 2, 20, 1. In old English law. A legacy given to the church, or an accustomed mortuary. Cowell. Legatum morte testatoris tantum conurmatur, sicut donatio inter vivos traditione sola. Dyer, 143. A legacy is confirmed by the death of a testator, in the same manner as a gift from a living person is by delivery alone.