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"The Declaration of Independence," Vocabulary from the historical document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.
While the Himba population has historically exhibited a preference for consanguinity, Henn and Swinford were surprised to find that none of the individuals in their sample population had parents who were actually first cousins.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 25, 2023
"In general terms, our studies have shown that the health risks attributed to consanguinity have been exaggerated."
From Salon ● Sep. 11, 2022
While you can’t tell someone else how to feel about surprise consanguinity, I don’t think you’ve learned anything that you’re obliged to disclose.
From Slate ● Aug. 4, 2020
The author has a special and almost Darwinian interest in consanguinity, in the barbed things that are passed on in the blood of people and of horses, like curses, from generation to generation.
From New York Times ● Dec. 14, 2016
“All this nonsense comes from the Dark Ages. We know now that most birth deformities result from the consanguinity of the parents.”
From "Middlesex: A Novel" by Jeffrey Eugenides
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Get a wordDefinitions 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.
