Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com
Synonyms

lineal

American  
[lin-ee-uhl] / ˈlɪn i əl /

adjective

  1. being in the direct line, as a descendant or ancestor, or in a direct line, as descent or succession.

  2. of or transmitted by lineal descent.

  3. linear.


lineal British  
/ ˈlɪnɪəl /

adjective

  1. being in a direct line of descent from an ancestor

  2. of, involving, or derived from direct descent

  3. a less common word for linear

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

Etymology

Origin of lineal

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English word from Late Latin word līneālis. See line 1, -al 1

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.

Pace is related to John, Richard and Lineal Pace, brothers who in 1839 contributed $100 of $117,900 needed to endow the university and bring it to Boone County.

From Washington Times • Sep. 21, 2019

The Estimate is on the basis of Lineal Feet.

From Practical Mechanics for Boys by Zerbe, James Slough

Lineal descendant of one of the oldest dynasties in the world’s history, Mr. Hogge cannot be expected always and altogether to be free from ancestral influence.

From Punch, or the London Charivari, Vol. 147, July 29, 1914 by Various

Lineal successor of Inness is Dwight William Tryon, not that his work resembles the older man's, but because both paint the American landscape with a deep personal feeling and with a superb technique.

From American Men of Mind by Stevenson, Burton Egbert

She was an uncommon woman, with a pushing mind, and exhibited as "The Princess Popocatapetl, Lineal Descendant of Montezuma and Queen of the Caribbeans."

From The Belted Seas by Colton, Arthur Willis