cousin

¹

[ kuhz-uhn ]

noun

1. Also called first cousin,. the son or daughter of an uncle or aunt. second cousin, removed ( def 2 ).
2. one related by descent in a diverging line from a known common ancestor, as from one's grandparent or from one's father's or mother's sister or brother.
3. a kinsman or kinswoman; relative.
4. a person or thing related to another by similar natures, languages, geographical proximity, etc.:

   Our Canadian cousins are a friendly people.

5. Slang. a gullible, innocent person who is easily duped or taken advantage of.
6. a term of address used by a sovereign in speaking, writing, or referring to another sovereign or a high-ranking noble.

Cousin

²

[ koo-zan ]

noun

1. Vic·tor [veek-, tawr], 1792–1867, French philosopher and educational reformer: founder of the method of eclecticism in French philosophy.

cousin

¹

/ ˈkʌzən /

noun

1. Also calledfirst cousincousin-germanfull cousin the child of one's aunt or uncle
2. a relative who has descended from one of one's common ancestors. A person's second cousin is the child of one of his parents' first cousins. A person's third cousin is the child of one of his parents' second cousins. A first cousin once removed (or loosely second cousin ) is the child of one's first cousin
3. a member of a group related by race, ancestry, interests, etc

   our Australian cousins

4. a title used by a sovereign when addressing another sovereign or a nobleman

Cousin

²

/ kuzɛ̃ /

noun

1. CousinVictor17921867MFrenchPHILOSOPHY: philosopherEDUCATION: reformer Victor (viktɔr). 1792–1867, French philosopher and educational reformer

Derived Forms

• ˈcousinˌhood, noun
• ˈcousinly, adjectiveadverb

Other Words From

• cous·in·age cous·in·hood cous·in·ship noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of cousin¹

1250–1300; Middle English cosin < Anglo-French co ( u ) sin, Old French cosin < Latin consōbrīnus cousin (properly, son of one's mother's sister), equivalent to con- con- + sōbrīnus second cousin (presumably originally “pertaining to the sister”) < *swesrīnos, equivalent to *swesr-, gradational variant of *swesōr (> soror sister ) + *-īnos -ine ¹; for -sr- > -br- December

Word History and Origins

Origin of cousin¹

C13: from Old French cosin, from Latin consōbrīnus cousin, from sōbrīnus cousin on the mother's side; related to soror sister

Idioms and Phrases

see country cousin ; first cousin ; kissing cousins ; second cousin .

Example Sentences

In “A Real Pain,” cousins David and Benji — close since childhood but not quite brotherly — take a pilgrimage to Poland to see their late grandmother’s former home.

From Los Angeles Times

When the dispatchers called back, Hind answered and told them her cousin was dead.

From Salon

"Ivy", from Hawke’s Bay in New Zealand, told police there what had happened after her cousin came to her aid.

From BBC

But one thing that always remained a mystery was what happened to his cousin Fred Stredder during the war, after they met by chance in a café in Egypt on their way to fight.

From BBC

He was accompanied by his eldest sister Maryanne Trump Barry, a US federal judge, who has regularly visited her cousins on Lewis.

From BBC

Related Words

• relative