Where does “relative-in-law” come from?

relative-in-law (English) comes from English relative, from Middle French relatif, from Latin relātīvus, from Latin relātus, from Latin referō, from Latin rĕ-, from Latin prōdūcō, from Latin prō- — passed , crossed.

relative-in-law (English): A relative of one's generation, separated by one degree of marriage

Definitions

  1. A relative of one's generation, separated by one degree of marriage

Ancestry of “relative-in-law”, step by step

relative-in-law traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English relative

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishrelativeConnected to or depending on something else;...
2Middle Frenchrelatif
3Latinrelātīvusrelative, not absolute; having relation to or dependence on something else
4Latinrelātus(having been) driven or carried back
5Latinreferōto bear, bring, drive, or carry back, off, or away
6Latinrĕ-back, backwards
7Latinprōdūcōto lead or bring forth, forward or out
8Latinprō-forward direction, forward movement
9Proto-Italic*pro-pro- see the Latin entry for further meanings
10Proto-Indo-Europeanpro-toward, forward
11Proto-Indo-Europeanpor-to give birth; forward, through; going, passage
12Proto-Indo-Europeanper-before, in front; first; to go through
13Proto-Indo-Europeanpr̥tóspassed , crossed

via English in-law

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Englishin-lawA relative by marriage (or through affinity)
2English-in-lawRelated through marriage
3Englishmother-in-lawThe mother of one's spouse; A mother-in-law...
4Middle Englishmoder in lawemother-in-law
Every word from Proto-Indo-European pr̥tósEvery word from Proto-Indo-European per-Every word from Latin rĕ-