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

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

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

The grand duchy, being hereditary only in the male line, passed to the nearest agnate, the duke of Nassau.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 13, Slice 5 "Hinduism" to "Home, Earls of" by Various

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

So, too, if your brother, or your paternal uncle, or even a more remote agnate, adopts any one, that person undoubtedly becomes one of your agnates.

From The Institutes of Justinian by Moyle, John Baron

Thus the son of your father's sister is no agnate of yours, but merely your cognate, and vice versa; for children are member's of their father's family, and not of your mother's.

From The Institutes of Justinian by Moyle, John Baron