O.E. cyn "family, race, kind, nature," from P.Gmc. *kunjan (cf. O.N. kyn, O.H.G. chunni, Goth. kuni "family, race," O.N. kundr "son," Ger. kind "child"), from PIE *gen- "to produce" (see genus). Kinship is a modern word, first attested 1833 in writing of Mrs. Browning.
De*gen"er*ate\, a. [L. degeneratus, p. p. of degenerare to degenerate, cause to degenerate, fr. degener base, degenerate, that departs from its race or kind; de- + genus race, kind. See Kin relationship.] Having become worse than one's kind, or one's former state; having declined in worth; having lost in goodness; deteriorated; degraded; unworthy; base; low. Faint-hearted and degenerate king. --Shak. A degenerate and degraded state. --Milton. Degenerate from their ancient blood. --Swift. These degenerate days. --Pope. I had planted thee a noble vine . . . : how then art thou turned into the degenerate plant of a strange vine unto me? --Jer. ii. 21.
Gen"der\, n. [OF. genre, gendre (with excrescent d.), F. genre, fr. L. genus, generis, birth, descent, race, kind, gender, fr. the root of genere, gignere, to beget, in pass., to be born, akin to E. kin. See Kin, and cf. Generate, Genre, Gentle, Genus.]1. Kind; sort. [Obs.] "One gender of herbs." --Shak. 2. Sex, male or female. [Obs. or Colloq.] 3. (Gram.) A classification of nouns, primarily according to sex; and secondarily according to some fancied or imputed quality associated with sex. Gender is a grammatical distinction and applies to words only. Sex is natural distinction and applies to living objects. --R. Morris. Note: Adjectives and pronouns are said to vary in gender when the form is varied according to the gender of the words to which they refer.
Har"le*quin\, n. [F. arlequin,formerly written also harlequin (cf. It, arlecchino), prob. fr. OF. hierlekin, hellequin, goblin, elf, which is prob. of German or Dutch origin; cf. D. hel hell. Cf. Hell, Kin.] A buffoon, dressed in party-colored clothes, who plays tricks, often without speaking, to divert the bystanders or an audience; a merry-andrew; originally, a droll rogue of Italian comedy. --Percy Smith. As dumb harlequin is exhibited in our theaters. --Johnson. Harlequin bat (Zo["o]l.), an Indian bat (Scotophilus ornatus), curiously variegated with white spots. Harlequin beetle (Zo["o]l.), a very large South American beetle (Acrocinus longimanus) having very long legs and antenn[ae]. The elytra are curiously marked with red, black, and gray. Harlequin cabbage bug. (Zo["o]l.) See Calicoback. Harlequin caterpillar. (Zo["o]l.), the larva of an American bombycid moth (Euch[ae]tes egle) which is covered with black, white, yellow, and orange tufts of hair. Harlequin duck (Zo["o]l.), a North American duck (Histrionicus histrionicus). The male is dark ash, curiously streaked with white. Harlequin moth. (Zo["o]l.) See Magpie Moth. Harlequin opal. See Opal. Harlequin snake (Zo["o]l.), a small, poisonous snake (Elaps fulvius), ringed with red and black, found in the Southern United States.
Ho`mo*ge"ne*ous\, a. [Gr. ?; ? the same + ? race, kind: cf. F. homog[`e]ne. See Same, and Kin.]1. Of the same kind of nature; consisting of similar parts, or of elements of the like nature; -- opposed to heterogeneous; as, homogeneous particles, elements, or principles; homogeneous bodies. 2. (Alg.) Possessing the same number of factors of a given kind; as, a homogeneous polynomial.
Kin\, n. [OE. kin, cun, AS. cynn kin, kind, race, people; akin to cennan to beget, D. kunne sex, OS. & OHG. kunni kin, race, Icel. kyn, Goth. kuni, G. & D. kind a child, L. genus kind, race, L. gignere to beget, Gr. ? to be born, Skr. jan to beget. ?. Cf. Kind, King, Gender kind, Nation.]1. Relationship, consanguinity, or affinity; connection by birth or marriage; kindred; near connection or alliance, as of those having common descent. 2. Relatives; persons of the same family or race. The father, mother, and the kinbeside. --Dryden. You are of kin, and so a friend to their persons. --Bacon.
Kind\, a. [Compar. Kinder; superl. Kindest.] [AS. cynde, gecynde, natural, innate, prop. an old p. p. from the root of E. kin. See Kin kindred.]1. Characteristic of the species; belonging to one's nature; natural; native. [Obs.] --Chaucer. It becometh sweeter than it should be, and loseth the kind taste. --Holland. 2. Having feelings befitting our common nature; congenial; sympathetic; as, a kind man; a kind heart. Yet was he kind, or if severe in aught, The love he bore to learning was his fault. --Goldsmith. 3. Showing tenderness or goodness; disposed to do good and confer happiness; averse to hurting or paining; benevolent; benignant; gracious. He is kind unto the unthankful and to evil. --Luke vi 35. O cruel Death, to those you take more kind Than to the wretched mortals left behind. --Waller. A fellow feeling makes one wondrous kind. --Garrick. 4. Proceeding from, or characterized by, goodness, gentleness, or benevolence; as, a kind act. "Manners so kind, yet stately." --Tennyson. 5. Gentle; tractable; easily governed; as, a horse kind in harness. Syn: Benevolent; benign; beneficent; bounteous; gracious; propitious; generous; forbearing; indulgent; tender; humane; compassionate; good; lenient; clement; mild; gentle; bland; obliging; friendly; amicable. See Obliging.
King\, n.[AS. cyng, cyning; akin to OS. kuning, D. koning, OHG. kuning, G. k["o]nig, Icel. konungr, Sw. konung, Dan. konge; formed with a patronymic ending, and fr. the root of E. kin; cf. Icel. konr a man of noble birth. [root]44. See Kin.]1. A chief ruler; a sovereign; one invested with supreme authority over a nation, country, or tribe, usually by hereditary succession; a monarch; a prince. "Ay, every inch a king." --Shak. Kings will be tyrants from policy, when subjects are rebels from principle. --Burke. There was a State without king or nobles. --R. Choate. But yonder comes the powerful King of Day, Rejoicing in the east --Thomson. 2. One who, or that which, holds a supreme position or rank; a chief among competitors; as, a railroad king; a money king; the king of the lobby; the king of beasts. 3. A playing card having the picture of a king; as, the king of diamonds. 4. The chief piece in the game of chess. 5. A crowned man in the game of draughts. 6. pl. The title of two historical books in the Old Testament. Note: King is often used adjectively, or in combination, to denote pre["e]minence or superiority in some particular; as, kingbird; king crow; king vulture. Apostolic king.See Apostolic. King-at-arms, or King-of-arms, the chief heraldic officer of a country. In England the king-at-arms was formerly of great authority. His business is to direct the heralds, preside at their chapters, and have the jurisdiction of armory. There are three principal kings-at-arms, viz., Garter, Clarencieux, and Norroy. The latter (literally north roy or north king) officiates north of the Trent. King auk (Zo["o]l.), the little auk or sea dove. King bird of paradise. (Zo["o]l.), See Bird of paradise. King card, in whist, the best unplayed card of each suit; thus, if the ace and king of a suit have been played, the queen is the king card of the suit. King Cole, a legendary king of Britain, who is said to have reigned in the third century. King conch (Zo["o]l.), a large and handsome univalve shell (Cassis cameo), found in the West Indies. It is used for making cameos. See Helmet shell, under Helmet. King Cotton, a popular personification of the great staple production of the southern United States. King crab. (Zo["o]l.) (a) The limulus or horseshoe crab. See Limulus. (b) The large European spider crab or thornback (Maia squinado). King crow. (Zo["o]l.) (a) A black drongo shrike (Buchanga atra) of India; -- so called because, while breeding, they attack and drive away hawks, crows, and other large birds. (b) The Dicrurus macrocercus of India, a crested bird with a long, forked tail. Its color is black, with green and blue reflections. Called also devil bird. King duck (Zo["o]l.), a large and handsome eider duck (Somateria spectabilis), inhabiting the arctic regions of both continents. King eagle (Zo["o]l.), an eagle (Aquila heliaca) found in Asia and Southeastern Europe. It is about as large as the golden eagle. Some writers believe it to be the imperial eagle of Rome. King hake (Zo["o]l.), an American hake (Phycis regius), fond in deep water along the Atlantic coast. King monkey (Zo["o]l.), an African monkey (Colobus polycomus), inhabiting Sierra Leone. King mullet (Zo["o]l.), a West Indian red mullet (Upeneus maculatus); -- so called on account of its great beauty. Called also goldfish. King of terrors, death. King parrakeet (Zo["o]l.), a handsome Australian parrakeet (Platycercys scapulatus), often kept in a cage. Its prevailing color is bright red, with the back and wings bright green, the rump blue, and tail black. King penguin (Zo["o]l.), any large species of penguin of the genus Aptenodytes; esp., A. longirostris, of the Falkland Islands and Kerguelen Land, and A. Patagonica, of Patagonia. King rail (Zo["o]l.), a small American rail (Rallus elegans), living in fresh-water marshes. The upper parts are fulvous brown, striped with black; the breast is deep cinnamon color. King salmon (Zo["o]l.), the quinnat. See Quinnat. King's, or Queen's, counsel (Eng. Law), barristers learned in the law, who have been called within the bar, and selected to be the king's or queen's counsel. They answer in some measure to the advocates of the revenue (advocati fisci) among the Romans. They can not be employed against the crown without special license. --Wharton's Law Dict. King's cushion, a temporary seat made by two persons crossing their hands. [Prov. Eng.] --Halliwell. The king's English, correct or current language of good speakers; pure English. --Shak. King's or Queen's, evidence, testimony in favor of the Crown by a witness who confesses his guilt as an accomplice. See under Evidence. [Eng.] King's evil, scrofula; -- so called because formerly supposed to be healed by the touch of a king. King snake (Zo["o]l.), a large, nearly black, harmless snake (Ophiobolus getulus) of the Southern United States; -- so called because it kills and eats other kinds of snakes, including even the rattlesnake. King's spear (Bot.), the white asphodel (Asphodelus albus). King's yellow, a yellow pigment, consisting essentially of sulphide and oxide of arsenic; -- called also yellow orpiment. King tody (Zo["o]l.), a small fly-catching bird (Eurylaimus serilophus) of tropical America. The head is adorned with a large, spreading, fan-shaped crest, which is bright red, edged with black. King vulture (Zo["o]l.), a large species of vulture (Sarcorhamphus papa), ranging from Mexico to Paraguay, The general color is white. The wings and tail are black, and the naked carunculated head and the neck are briliantly colored with scarlet, yellow, orange, and blue. So called because it drives away other vultures while feeding. King wood, a wood from Brazil, called also violet wood, beautifully streaked in violet tints, used in turning and small cabinetwork. The tree is probably a species of Dalbergia. See Jacaranda.
Man`kind"\, n. [AS. mancynn. See Kin kindred, Kind, n.]1. The human race; man, taken collectively. The proper study of mankind is man. --Pore. 2. Men, as distinguished from women; the male portion of human race. --Lev. xviii. 22. 3. Human feelings; humanity. [Obs] --B. Jonson.
Na"tion\, n. [F. nation, L. natio nation, race, orig., a being born, fr. natus, p. p. of nasci, to be born, for gnatus, gnasci, from the same root as E. kin. [root]44. See Kin kindred, and cf. Cognate, Natal, Native.]1. (Ethnol.) A part, or division, of the people of the earth, distinguished from the rest by common descent, language, or institutions; a race; a stock. All nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues. --Rev. vii. 9. 2. The body of inhabitants of a country, united under an independent government of their own. A nation is the unity of a people. --Coleridge. Praise the power that hath made and preserved us a nation. --F. S. Key. 3. Family; lineage. [Obs.] --Chaucer. 4. (a) One of the divisions of university students in a classification according to nativity, formerly common in Europe. (b) (Scotch Universities) One of the four divisions (named from the parts of Scotland) in which students were classified according to their nativity. 5. A great number; a great deal; -- by way of emphasis; as, a nation of herbs. --Sterne. Five nations. See under Five. Law of nations. See International law, under International, and Law. Syn: people; race. See People.
Preg"nant\, a. [L. praegnans, -antis; prae before + genere, gignere, to beget: cf. F. pr['e]gnant. See Gender, 2d Kin.]1. Being with young, as a female; having conceived; great with young; breeding; teeming; gravid; preparing to bring forth. 2. Heavy with important contents, significance, or issue; full of consequence or results; weighty; as, pregnant replies. " A pregnant argument." --Prynne. " A pregnant brevity." --E. Everett. 3. Full of promise; abounding in ability, resources, etc.; as, a pregnant youth. [Obs.] --Evelyn. Wherein the pregnant enemy does much. --Shak. Pregnant construction (Rhet.), one in which more is implied than is said; as, the beasts trembled forth from their dens, that is, came forth trembling with fright.
Pri`mo*gen"i*ture\ (?; 135), n. [LL., fr. L. primus first + genitura a begetting, birth, generation, fr. genere, gignere, to beget: cf. F. primog['e]niture, L. primogenitus firstborn. See Prime, a., and Genus, Kin.]1. The state of being the firstborn of the same parents; seniority by birth among children of the same family. 2. (Eng. Law) The exclusive right of inheritance which belongs to the eldest son. Thus in England the right of inheriting the estate of the father belongs to the eldest son, and in the royal family the eldest son of the sovereign is entitled to the throne by primogeniture. In exceptional cases, among the female children, the crown descends by right of primogeniture to the eldest daughter only and her issue. --Blackstone.
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