Word of the Day

: May 4, 2008

kindred

adjective KIN-drud

What It Means

1 : of a similar nature or character : like

2 : of the same ancestry

kindred in Context

The rock-climbing club tends to attract kindred spirits -- outdoorsy, adventurous types who derive satisfaction from conquering new challenges.

Did You Know?

If you believe that advice and relatives are inseparable, the etymology of "kindred" will prove you right. "Kindred" comes from a combination of "kin" and the Old English word ræden ("condition"), which itself comes from the verb rædan, meaning "to advise." "Kindred" entered English as a noun first, in the 12th century. That noun, which can refer to a group of related individuals or to one's own relatives, gave rise to the adjective "kindred" in the 14th century.