χηρ-ωσταί,ῶν,οἱ,
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 (orπόρρωθεν)συγγενεῖς(also expld. = ὀρφανιστής ,one who acts as a guardian to widows and orphans,
Eust. 533.30 ). (Compd. ofχηρο-'abandoned' and-ωστᾱ-from-ω-δ-τᾱ-,nomen agentis ofω-δ-,cf. Skt.ā´ dā-'receive'; and Lat.hērēd-(ĝhēro + ē-d-).)