legacy

 
Pronunciation: /ˈlɛgəsi/

noun (plural legacies)

  • an amount of money or property left to someone in a will: my grandmother died and unexpectedly left me a small legacy
  • something left or handed down by a predecessor: the legacy of centuries of neglect

adjective

Computing
  • denoting or relating to software or hardware that has been superseded but is difficult to replace because of its wide use.

Origin:

late Middle English (also denoting the function or office of a deputy, especially a papal legate): from Old French legacie, from medieval Latin legatia 'legateship', from legatus 'person delegated' (see legate)