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View synonyms for nephew

nephew

[ nef-yooor, especially British, nev-yoo ]

noun

  1. a son of one's brother or sister.
  2. a son of one's spouse's brother or sister.
  3. an illegitimate son of a clergyman who has vowed celibacy (used as a euphemism).
  4. Obsolete. a direct descendant, especially a grandson.
  5. Obsolete. a remote male descendant, as a grandnephew or cousin.


nephew

/ ˈnɛf-; ˈnɛvjuː /

noun

  1. a son of one's sister or brother


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Word History and Origins

Origin of nephew1

1250–1300; Middle English neveu < Old French < Latin nepōtem, accusative of nepōs nephew, grandson; akin to Old English nefa, Dutch neef, German Neffe, Old Norse nefi; the pseudo-etymological spelling with ph has influenced pronunciation

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Word History and Origins

Origin of nephew1

C13: from Old French neveu, from Latin nepōs; related to Old English nefa, Old High German nevo relative

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Example Sentences

“Give about two [hours] every day to exercise,” Jefferson instructed his young nephew.

Seven days after receiving the letter from Navarro, Abidogun had yet to break the “bad news” to his brother-in-law and his nephew.

Her mother, brother, and nephew—and her brother-in-law did it, too.

Cardin is the nephew of Senator Ben Cardin and ran with his uncle putting all of his political resources behind him.

His uncle denounced Knausgaard publicly and no longer speaks with his famous nephew.

"Buy something for your wife that-is-to-be," he said to his grand-nephew, as he handed him the folded paper.

Her nephew stood away, regarding Agnes out of eyes in which she could see a growing fear.

I gave up my nephew to my country, and I—er—suffered from the shortage of potatoes to an extent that you probably didn't realize.

The creditors divided among them two thirds, and the family, a sister and a grand-nephew, received the remainder.

But is not 'nephew' used here, not in the present strict sense, but in the wider sense of young relative?

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nephelometerNephilim