consanguinity
Americannoun
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relationship by descent from a common ancestor; kinship (distinguished from affinity).
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close relationship or connection.
noun
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relationship by blood; kinship
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close affinity or connection
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geology (of igneous rocks) similarity of origin, as shown by common mineral and chemical compositions and often texture
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of consanguinity
1350–1400; Middle English consanguinite (< Anglo-French ) < Latin consanguinitās. See consanguineous, -ity
Explanation
The noun consanguinity means "relation by blood," so if you want to dazzle your brother, point out that consanguinity isn't the only reason you hang out with him — he's also a great guy! Consanguinity comes from the Latin com- "together" and sanguineus "of blood," which itself can be traced back even farther, to the early 14th century when the Old French word sanguin (fem. sanguine) meant "a type of red cloth." So blood gets its name from the vivid red color it matches, and consanguinity describes the people who, as family members, share the same blood.
Vocabulary lists containing consanguinity
The Declaration of Independence
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"The Declaration of Independence," Vocabulary from the historical document
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"The Declaration of Independence" by Thomas Jefferson
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Australian author Alan Bittles, who in 2012 wrote "Consanguinity in Context" based on his decades of research on intra-familial marriages, concluded in his book that it's probably fine.
From Salon • Sep. 11, 2022
Second is the Principle of Consanguinity, which says, ‘a piece of a thing can represent the whole of a thing.’
From "The Name of the Wind" by Patrick Rothfuss
“Even with all that effort the best you might hope for is ten or fifteen percent sympathetic link. Not very good, not very good at all. “This brings me to the second law, Consanguinity.
From "The Name of the Wind" by Patrick Rothfuss
Consanguinity and Affinity.—The prohibited degrees of consanguinity are determined according to the principles of the religious body to which the parties belong.
From Marriage and Divorce Laws of the World by Ringrose, Hyacinthe
They Have also turned a deaf ear to the voice Of Justice and of Consanguinity.
From Mathieu Ropars: et cetera by Young, William
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
