cousin

¹

[ kuhz-uhn ]

noun

1. Also called first cousin,. the son or daughter of an uncle or aunt. second cousin, removed ( def 2 ).
2. one related by descent in a diverging line from a known common ancestor, as from one's grandparent or from one's father's or mother's sister or brother.
3. a kinsman or kinswoman; relative.
4. a person or thing related to another by similar natures, languages, geographical proximity, etc.:

   Our Canadian cousins are a friendly people.

5. Slang. a gullible, innocent person who is easily duped or taken advantage of.
6. a term of address used by a sovereign in speaking, writing, or referring to another sovereign or a high-ranking noble.

Cousin

²

[ koo-zan ]

noun

1. Vic·tor [veek-, tawr], 1792–1867, French philosopher and educational reformer: founder of the method of eclecticism in French philosophy.

cousin

¹

/ ˈkʌzən /

noun

1. Also calledfirst cousincousin-germanfull cousin the child of one's aunt or uncle
2. a relative who has descended from one of one's common ancestors. A person's second cousin is the child of one of his parents' first cousins. A person's third cousin is the child of one of his parents' second cousins. A first cousin once removed (or loosely second cousin ) is the child of one's first cousin
3. a member of a group related by race, ancestry, interests, etc

   our Australian cousins

4. a title used by a sovereign when addressing another sovereign or a nobleman

Cousin

²

/ kuzɛ̃ /

noun

1. CousinVictor17921867MFrenchPHILOSOPHY: philosopherEDUCATION: reformer Victor (viktɔr). 1792–1867, French philosopher and educational reformer

Derived Forms

• ˈcousinˌhood, noun
• ˈcousinly, adjectiveadverb

Other Words From

• cous·in·age cous·in·hood cous·in·ship noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of cousin¹

1250–1300; Middle English cosin < Anglo-French co ( u ) sin, Old French cosin < Latin consōbrīnus cousin (properly, son of one's mother's sister), equivalent to con- con- + sōbrīnus second cousin (presumably originally “pertaining to the sister”) < *swesrīnos, equivalent to *swesr-, gradational variant of *swesōr (> soror sister ) + *-īnos -ine ¹; for -sr- > -br- December

Word History and Origins

Origin of cousin¹

C13: from Old French cosin, from Latin consōbrīnus cousin, from sōbrīnus cousin on the mother's side; related to soror sister

Idioms and Phrases

see country cousin ; first cousin ; kissing cousins ; second cousin .

Example Sentences

The flares appear to be tiny cousins of the better known solar flares.

From Science News For Students

Weganool, a vegan cousin of wool that is primed to take off as the next big thing in sustainable fashion in Europe and beyond.

From Ozy

Suppose Dax had a cousin, Max, who was 60% husky and 40% Pomeranian.

From Quanta Magazine

Also like its basketball-playing cousins, hockey will have a bit of a convoluted format upon its return.

From FiveThirtyEight

In addition to being an economist and teacher, Sally Sadoff also happens to be my cousin.

From Freakonomics

Mating with a cousin or brother is safer than risking life and limb to mate with an outsider.

From The Daily Beast

“A mother has lost a son,” referring to his late cousin Akai.

From The Daily Beast

The savvy forger with Pappy empties to fill might get his hands on some Old Weller and present it as its more illustrious cousin.

From The Daily Beast

A few worries, to be sure, but not that cousin of depression and anxiety, dread.

From The Daily Beast

The second-to-last time we met Zalwar Khan, he brought a man he introduced as his cousin.

From The Daily Beast

Cousin George's position is such a happy one, that conversation is to him a thing superfluous.

From Project Gutenberg

From the moment that he touches the magical little hand, cousin George is eclipsed.

From Project Gutenberg

As a matter of fact, it was a very distant cousin of hers who had died, a Mrs. Fanshawe Collingwood, who also lived in the town.

From Project Gutenberg

The Professor thought very kindly of the dead cousin, whose money would provide for this great work.

From Project Gutenberg

Never had Tom seen his gay and careless cousin in such guise: he was restless, silent, intense and inarticulate.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• relative