cousin

¹

[kuhz-uhn]

noun

1. Also called full cousin. Also called first cousin. the son or daughter of an uncle or aunt.

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. Victor 1792–1867, French philosopher and educational reformer: founder of the method of eclecticism in French philosophy.

cousin

¹

/ ˈkʌzən /

noun

1. Also called: first cousin.  cousin-german.  full 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. Victor (viktɔr). 1792–1867, French philosopher and educational reformer

Other Word Forms

• cousinage noun
• cousinhood noun
• cousinship noun
• cousinly adjective

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

Still others — and this may be your cousin — simply want to be near the action, hovering like an enthusiastic stagehand hoping for a cameo.

Read more on Salon

Owen’s elders—his aging American cousins, maybe once-removed—had a good year.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

"My cousin Owen and friend Lucy are both alive because of the hospital and charity," Faye said.

Read more on BBC

“What I remember about Claire was how important family was to her and how close she was with my mother and the other cousins,” Peck said.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Stein is survived by his wife, son Gary Stein, daughter Darolyn Bellemeur, and their spouses, children and grandchildren, his brother Ira Stein, a nephew, cousins as well as Connie Stein’s children and grandchildren.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• relative