agnate

American  

[ag-neyt] / ˈæg neɪt /

noun

1. a relative whose connection is traceable exclusively through males.

2. any male relation on the father's side.

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adjective

1. related or akin through males or on the father's side.

2. allied or akin.

agnate British  

/ ˈæɡneɪt, æɡˈnætɪk /

adjective

1. related by descent from a common male ancestor

2. related in any way; cognate

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noun

1. a male or female descendant by male links from a common male ancestor

Other Word Forms

• agnation
  noun
• agnatic
  adjective
• agnatical
  adjective
• agnatically
  adverb

Etymology

Origin of agnate

First recorded in 1450–1500; from Latin agnātus “paternal kinsman,” variant of ad(g)nātus “born to” (past participle of adgnāscī ), equivalent to ad- ad- + -gnā “be born” + -tus past participle suffix

Explanation

An agnate is a relative on your father's side of the family. Your father's parents are your agnate grandparents. Agnate refers to relatives connected to you directly through your father, such as your father's parents or his siblings. The term comes from the Latin word agnatus, which means "born from the same father." Historically, agnate relationships were significant in determining inheritance and family roles. Today, understanding who your agnate relatives are can help you learn more about your family's history and how different branches of your family tree connect.

Example Sentences

The land through which she guides us is flavid, agnate, calcined, karsty.

From The New Yorker • May 9, 2016

Adj. related, akin, consanguineous, of the blood, family, allied, collateral; cognate, agnate, connate; kindred; affiliated; fraternal. intimately related, nearly related, closely related, remotely related, distantly related, allied; german.

From Roget's Thesaurus of English Words and Phrases by Roget, Peter Mark

Besides, magnetick mines are only agnate to the true earth, not innate: hence the whole globe does not regard them, and magneticks are not borne to them, as is demonstrated by the diagram of eminences.

From On the magnet, magnetick bodies also, and on the great magnet the earth a new physiology, demonstrated by many arguments & experiments by Gilbert, William

The motive to the act was not so generally childlessness, or the gratification of affection, as the desire to acquire those civil and agnate rights which were founded on the patria potestas.

From The Project Gutenberg Encyclopedia Volume 1 of 28 by Project Gutenberg

When the father died, the nearest male of kin, even though declared unqualified as an agnate, came in as guardian.

From Woman under socialism by De Leon, Daniel