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cognation

cognation

9.9
A blood relationship that shows family by birth
  • noun
  • /kɒɡˈneɪʃən/
  • Specialized
translation icon : consanguinidad
  • Cognation refers to the biological kinship that exists between siblings, highlighting their blood relationship.

Examples

  • A cognation range of 14-29 percent and a median of 20 percent between the two branches mark the Mel group's division into Highlands and BuKiGo.

    Academic text (2004)
  • In anthropology, cognation is used to explain how family ties can be traced through blood rather than legal marriage.

  • Studies in cognation demonstrate that our genetic connections to relatives can influence health outcomes.

Synonyms

blood
vscognation
639 4.1

Family history passed down from your ancestors

is narrower, meaning direct biological kinship rather than general ancestry or traits
consanguinity
vscognation
  • Specialized
1 9.9

A blood relation between people from the same family

is used in anthropology to stress biological kinship over marriage ties
blood kinship
vscognation
6.3

A family link between people who are related by birth, not by marriage or adoption

is about the general biological kinship state rather than specific pair relations

Surface Forms

cognation singular
cognations plural

Morphology

cognation = cognate (semi-transparent) = cognate + ion

Formed from 'cognate' + '-ion'; the abstract technical meaning 'state of being related by blood' is predictable from the base but the term is formal and specialized.

Etymology

Cognation comes from Latin parts co- ('together') and gnatus ('born'), so it originally meant 'born together' and is used for people who are related by blood.