consanguinity

What it means

1. countableuncountableA consanguineous or family relationship through parentage or descent.

   Near-synonyms: relatedness, relation (both contextually synonymous)

   3 more examples

   1776, United States Declaration of Independence They too have been deaf to the voice of justice and of consanguinity.

   The laws of fashion do not bind people of rank to forget the ties of consanguinity and affection, for I could point out numerous instances where mothers really love their children, and wives their husbands.

   1842, [anonymous collaborator of Letitia Elizabeth Landon], chapter XXV, in Lady Anne Granard; or, Keeping up Appearances. […], volume II, London: Henry Colburn, […], →OCLC, page 24

   At Isabella's earnest request, he took both her and the child on board, for the single hour which remained to the voyagers, to the satisfaction of all parties, and it seemed as if the long-drooping flower had already revived beneath the genial smile of consanguinity, and the very tears she had shed were sweet and grateful, refreshing the bosom moved so tenderly.

   1842, [anonymous collaborator of Letitia Elizabeth Landon], chapter LIII, in Lady Anne Granard; or, Keeping up Appearances. […], volume III, London: Henry Colburn, […], →OCLC, page 57

   Synonyms: consanguineousness, consanguinuity, blood relation, blood relationship, same-bloodedness, relatedness, relation

2. countableuncountableInbreeding.

   The Mongrel Virginians was similar to other eugenic family studies in its method and mode of argumentation, but its intensive focus on "race mixing," rather than consanguinity, represents a marked departure from the previous studies.

   2006, Matt Wray, Not Quite White, page 81

   Synonyms: consanguineousness, consanguinuity, same-bloodedness

In a sentence

Near-synonyms: relatedness, relation (both contextually synonymous)

Where it comes from

1. Latinsanguis“blood”
2. Latincom-“together”
3. Latincōnsanguinitās
4. Old Frenchconsanguinité
5. Middle Frenchconsanguinéité, consanguinité
6. Middle Englishconsanguinite, consanguinyte, consanguinytee, consanguynyte, consangwinyte
7. Englishconsanguinity

From Middle English consanguinite, consanguinyte, consanguinytee, consanguynyte, consangwinyte, from Middle French consanguinéité, consanguinité (from Old French consanguinité) and its etymon Latin cōnsanguinitās (accusative cōnsanguinitātem), from cōnsanguineus + -itās, from Latin com- (“together”) + sanguineus (“of or pertaining to blood”), from Latin sanguis (“blood”) + -eus. By surface analysis, consanguine + -ity.