Is 'bequeathed' appropriate in the sentence?

[Tan Elaine]

I read the following sentence in an exercise on vocabulary in a book on word usage.

Is 'bequeathed' appropriate in the following sentence?

The majestic sun bequeathed its warm rays to the earth.

Thanks.

 

[5jj]

It's possible in poetic language, but unhelpful in a book on word usage, in my opinion.

 

[waflob]

Firstly, bequeathed strikes me as a fairly old-fashioned term. It may have a more modern usage in wills and testaments, but I'm not a lawyer.

Bequeath means to give something, usually to someone else. It looks a bit strange in the context given.

 

[BobK]

:up: ... and the giver is usually dead. Perhaps the metaphor refers to warmth that remains after sunset - but maybe my interpretation is too generous; the 'rays' rule out sunset. I'd say it was not only poetic but also just plain bad (both when it was written and when it was included in a course book). ;-)

b

 

[SoothingDave]

I imagine most people encounter this word, if at all, only in terms of a deceased person's will.

 

[BobK]

I imagine most people encounter this word, if at all, only in terms of a deceased person's will.

:up: ... and also a related noun: that which is bequeathed is a bequest

b