agnation

A1G2N1A1T1I1O1N1

noun

consanguinity by a line of males only, as distinguished from cognation

Scrabble 9

Meanings

nounagnation (countable and uncountable, plural agnations)

plural agnations

  1. countableuncountableconsanguinity by a line of males only, as distinguished from cognation

    Between an uncle and his sister's son, therefore, there is no agnation, but only kinship

    1803, William Alexander Hunter, A Systematic and Historical Exposition of Roman Law in the Order of a Code
    1 more example

    Furthermore, for reasons that will by now be obvious, interhouse relations represent a paradigm for the politics of agnation at large: any competition for influence or position among patrilateral kin is, in essence, a rivalry between houses produced by a shared ancestor and reproduced across the generations, and particular units, whether or not they take the initiative in such processes, are ultimately drawn into their purview (see chap. 2).

    1986, John L. Comaroff, Simon Roberts, Rules and Processes, →ISBN, page 226
  2. countableuncountablegrammarThe property of being agnate.

Synonyms & antonyms

nounline of descent traced through the paternal side of the family

Broader
unilateral descent
Also see

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

  1. Latinagnatio
  2. Englishagnation

Learned borrowing from Latin agnatio. Compare French agnation.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

French agnation
  • agnationconsanguinity by a line of males
Polish agnacja, agnatyzm
  • agnacjaconsanguinity by a line of males
  • agnatyzmconsanguinity by a line of males
Portuguese agnação
  • agnaçãoconsanguinity by a line of males
Romanian agnațiune
  • agnațiuneconsanguinity by a line of males
Spanish agnación
  • agnaciónconsanguinity by a line of males
Cite this entry
APA

agnation. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/agnation

MLA

“agnation.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/agnation. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “agnation,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/agnation.

Source: agnation on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.