akin
UK /əˈkɪn/ · US /ʌˈkɪn/ adjective, verb, proper noun
Forms akins akinning akinned a kin a-kin
- adjective Of persons, of the same kin; related by blood.
- adjective Allied by nature; similar; partaking of the same properties; of the same kind. [(often) with to]
- verb (transitive, rare) To relate or compare; to liken. “I like to akin the P-Diddy case to Gen-Z's version of the O.J. Simpson trial.”
- proper noun A surname.
Synonyms
cognate connate kindred blood-related consanguine consanguineous consanguineal kin
Etymology
From a corruption of of kin, from Middle English of kyn (“related, of kin”), equivalent to a- + kin (1550s). Compare Old English cyn, cynn (“akin, proper, suitable”, adj.).
Webster’s 1913
- adjective Of the same kin; related by blood; --used of persons; as, the two families are near akin.
- adjective Allied by nature; partaking of the same properties; of the same kind. "A joy akin to rapture." Cowper.
Etymology [Pref. a- (for of) + kin.]
Sources: Wiktionary · WordNet 3.0 · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “akin”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details