cognate

Syllabification: cog·nate

Pronunciation: /ˈkägˌnāt 

  

/

ADJECTIVE

• 1Linguistics (Of a word) having the same linguistic derivation as another; from the same original word or root (e.g., English is, German ist, Latin est, from Indo-European esti).

  MORE EXAMPLE SENTENCES

  • English mother and German Mutter are cognate words.
  • There is an interesting but short section on the local adaptive value of cultural rules including dialects and cognate words.
  • However, many linguists think he chose cognate terms too broadly to bolster his reconstruction.
  • GET MORE EXAMPLES

• 2• formal Related; connected:cognate subjects such as physics and chemistry

  MORE EXAMPLE SENTENCES

  • His book deals with memes and other cognate subjects less frivolously and with much more academic rigour than I can muster.
  • What we need is a conceptual ‘map’ that allows us to think through where ‘animation’ lies in relation to cognate subject areas.
  • Interferences with the amenities of land and personal injuries arising during the use of land are cognate subjects.
  • GET MORE EXAMPLES
• 2.1Related to or descended from a common ancestor. Compare with agnate.

  MORE EXAMPLE SENTENCES

  • The separation of childbearing from domesticity leads to a need for extended families, which are primarily cognate kin groups.

NOUN

Back to top  

• 1Linguistics A cognate word.

  MORE EXAMPLE SENTENCES

  • It's a very old word, with cognates in most Germanic languages.
  • The word neshama is a cognate of nesheema, which means literally ‘breath.’
  • More than a dozen words and cognates are employed throughout the Old Testament for beauty.
  • GET MORE EXAMPLES

• 2Law A blood relative.

  MORE EXAMPLE SENTENCES

  • All distinction between agnates and cognates in matters of succession had been abolished at the very time when the great collection of Roman law had been assembled and codified.
  • A kin group usually includes cognates of all degrees and godparents.