from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Entail \En*tail"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Entailed}; p. pr. & vb.
n. {Entailing}.] [OE. entailen to carve, OF. entailler. See
{Entail}, n.]
1. To settle or fix inalienably on a person or thing, or on a
person and his descendants or a certain line of
descendants; -- said especially of an estate; to bestow as
an heritage.
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Allowing them to entail their estates. --Hume.
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I here entail
The crown to thee and to thine heirs forever.
--Shak.
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2. To appoint hereditary possessor. [Obs.]
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To entail him and his heirs unto the crown. --Shak.
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3. To cut or carve in an ornamental way. [Obs.]
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Entailed with curious antics. --Spenser.
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