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avunculate

[ uh-vuhng-kyuh-lit, -leyt ]
/ əˈvʌŋ kyə lɪt, -ˌleɪt /
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noun Anthropology.
a close social relationship between a maternal uncle and his nephew.
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Origin of avunculate

1915–20; <Latin avuncul(us) uncle (see avuncular) + -ate3

Words nearby avunculate

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

British Dictionary definitions for avunculate

avunculate
/ (əˈvʌŋkjʊlɪt) /

noun
the custom in some societies of assigning rights and duties to a maternal uncle concerning his sister's son
adjective
of, relating to, or governed by this custom
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
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