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Glite Dictionary
kissing kin

kissing kin

9.2
Relatives you greet with a kiss, often not close family
  • noun
  • /ˈkɪsɪŋ kɪn/
translation icon : parientes que se besan
  • The wedding brought out a surprising number of distant kissing kin from across the country.

Examples

  • Though not immediate relatives, they were still considered kissing kin in her Southern community.

  • At family reunions, she always makes sure to say hello to all her kissing kin.

  • My kissing kin are so much fun to be around!

  • I always greet my kissing kin at family gatherings.

  • At family reunions, she always makes sure to say hello to all her kissing kin.

  • Though not immediate relatives, they were still considered kissing kin in her Southern community.

  • The wedding brought out a surprising number of distant kissing kin from across the country.

Synonyms

kin
vskissing kin
132 2.6

People who are related by blood or marriage

is about relatives familiar enough for close greeting, not all relations
kissing cousin
vskissing kin
  • Archaic
1 7.7

A distant relative or close family friend you are fond of, not a romantic partner

refers to relatives who are distant yet familiar enough for close greeting
kinsfolk
vskissing kin
  • Archaic
8.1

People who are related to you by blood, like aunts and cousins

means relatives who are familiar enough for close greeting rather than just being extended
kinspeople
vskissing kin
6.2

People in your family by blood or marriage

focuses on relatives familiar enough for close greeting rather than any relation
kin group
vskissing kin
4.5

A group of people who are related by blood or marriage

is about relatives who are familiar enough for a personal greeting, not any group

Antonyms

stranger
∞ 1.0

A person you do not know

How Close

family
∞ 1.0
kissing kin
9.2
relative
645 1.0
acquaintance
114 3.5
stranger
∞ 1.0

Surface Forms

kissing kin singular
kissing kins plural

Morphology

kissing + kin

The phrase 'kissing kin' is a straightforward composition of 'kissing' (the act of greeting with a kiss) and 'kin' (relatives), so its meaning 'relatives one greets with a kiss' can be directly inferred from the parts. This gerund + noun construction follows common, cross-linguistic compounding patterns and would be understandable to a B1 learner who knows both constituents.

Etymology

Kissing kin comes from the simple picture of family greetings. Imagine relatives at a family gathering who say hello with a kiss on the cheek; those you kiss are your kissing kin. So the phrase means 'relatives you are familiar enough to greet with a kiss'.