Cognatic

/kɒɡˈnætɪk/ adjective

Definition

Relating to kinship through mother's line or both parents; describing systems of descent that include both sides of the family.

Etymology

From cognate + -ic suffix. Developed in anthropology to describe kinship systems more complex than purely paternal or maternal descent.

Kelly Says

Cognatic kinship systems are found in many cultures worldwide—they recognize that you're equally descended from both your mother and father, which sounds obvious but revolutionized how anthropologists understood different societies.

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