lin·e·al

[lin-ee-uhl]
adjective
1.
being in the direct line, as a descendant or ancestor, or in a direct line, as descent or succession.
2.
of or transmitted by lineal descent.

Origin:
1350–1400; Middle English < Late Latin līneālis. See line1, -al1

lin·e·al·ly, adverb
mul·ti·lin·e·al, adjective
non·lin·e·al, adjective
un·lin·e·al, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
Cite This Source Link To lineal
00:10
Lineal is always a great word to know.
So is slumgullion. Does it mean:
a stew of meat, vegetables, potatoes, etc.
an arrangement of five objects, as trees, in a square or rectangle, one at each corner and one in the middle.
Collins
World English Dictionary
lineal (ˈlɪnɪəl) [Click for IPA pronunciation guide]
 
adj
1.  being in a direct line of descent from an ancestor
2.  of, involving, or derived from direct descent
3.  a less common word for linear
 
[C14: via Old French from Late Latin līneālis, from Latin līnealine1]
 
'lineally
 
adv

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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Etymonline
Word Origin & History

lineal
late 14c., from Fr. lineal, from L.L. linealis, from linea (see line (n.)).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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Example sentences
It is possible, of course, that the fossil really did belong to my lineal
  ancestor.
Lineal descendants have standing to claim human remains, funerary objects, and
  sacred objects.
It is hubris to expect the world to remain unchanged and accept lineal
  forecasts.
The message of the movie medium is that of transition from lineal connections
  in configurations.
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