χηρωσταί

A. far-off kinsmen, who seize and divide among themselves the property of one who dies without heirs (χῆρος), χηρωσταὶ δὲ διὰ κτῆσιν δατέοντο Il. 5.158, cf. Hes. Th. 607 (v. Sch. ad loc.), Q.S. 8.299, Hsch., = οἱ μακρόθεν (or πόρρωθεν)συγγενεῖς (also expld. = ὀρφανιστής, one who acts as a guardian to widows and orphans, Eust. 533.30). (Compd. of χηρο‐ 'abandoned' and ‐ωστα‐ from ‐ω‐δ‐τα‐, nomen agentis of ω‐δ‐, cf. Skt. ā´ dā- 'receive'; and Lat. hērēd- (ĝhēro + ē-d-).)