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Glite Dictionary
tanist

tanist

9.9
A person chosen to be the next leader, often the heir to a chief or king in old Ireland
  • noun
  • /ˈtænɪst/
  • Archaic
translation icon : tanista
  • The tanist was selected during the clan meeting.

Examples

  • The board viewed her as the natural tanist to lead the company into the future.

  • After years of training, he was named the official tanist to the organization's president.

  • In medieval Ireland, the tanist was chosen to succeed the reigning chief.

  • Each tanist must prove their worthiness to lead.

  • The tanist was celebrated during the ceremony, marking his official role as the future leader of the tribe.

  • As the tanist, she was groomed for leadership, learning about the responsibilities that awaited her.

  • In ancient Celtic society, the tanist was often the chief's chosen heir, destined to inherit the throne.

Synonyms

successor
vstanist
146 3.7

A person or thing that takes over a job after someone else

is specifically an officially chosen heir for a leadership position
crown prince
vstanist
1 3.9

A person who people expect to become the next leader of a group or organization

is officially chosen as the next heir rather than merely a likely candidate

Surface Forms

tanist singular
tanists plural

Etymology

Tanist comes from the Irish word tánaiste, which means 'second' or 'the second person', and it was used in medieval Ireland for the person chosen to follow the chief. So a tanist is an official successor or 'second in command'.