cousin

cous·in

noun \ˈkə-zən\

Definition of COUSIN

1

a : a child of one's uncle or aunt

b : a relative descended from one's grandparent or more remote ancestor by two or more steps and in a different line

c : kinsman, relative <a distant cousin>

2

: one associated with or related to another : counterpart

3

—used as a title by a sovereign in addressing a nobleman

4

: a person of a race or people ethnically or culturally related <our English cousins>

— cous·in·hood \-ˌhu̇d\ noun

— cous·in·ly adjective

— cous·in·ship \-ˌship\ noun

Examples of COUSIN

1. Everyone came to the wedding, including a distant cousin no one had heard from in years.
2. The cricket is a cousin of the grasshopper.
3. hurricanes and their cousins, typhoons

Origin of COUSIN

Middle English cosin, from Anglo-French cusin, cosin, from Latin consobrinus, from com- + sobrinus second cousin, from soror sister — more at sister

First Known Use: 13th century

Related to COUSIN

Synonyms

relative, kin, kinsman, relation

Antonyms

nonrelative

Related Words

in-law; kissing cousin; kinswoman; blood, clan, family, folk, house, kindred, kinfolk (or kinfolks), kinsfolk, line, lineage, people, race, stock, tribe

Other Forms of Address Terms

appellation, beatitude, brethren, emeritus, esquire, sire, sous

Rhymes with COUSIN

dozen

Cou·sin

biographical name \kü-ˈzaⁿ\

Definition of COUSIN

Victor 1792–1867 Fr. philos.