Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “patrilineal” come from?

Patrilineal derives from English patri- combined with English lineal, which comes from Latin linealis, formed from Latin linum meaning thread or line, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European līno-.

patrilineal (English): Pertaining to descent through male lines

Definitions

  1. Pertaining to descent through male lines

Ancestry of “patrilineal”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishlinealOf a family relationship that includes mothers,...
2Old Frenchlineal—
3Latinlīneālis—
4Latinlīnea—
5Latinlīnum—
6Proto-Italiclīnom—
7Proto-Indo-Europeanlīnomflax

Words derived from “patrilineal”

  • patrilineality
  • patrilineally
  • nonpatrilineal
Every word from Proto-Indo-European līnom →