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nephews - 2 dictionary results

neph⋅ew

  [nef-yoo or, especially Brit., nev-yoo]
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–noun
1. a son of one's brother or sister.
2. a son of one's spouse's brother or sister.
3. an illegitimate son of a clergyman who has vowed celibacy (used as a euphemism).
4. Obsolete. a direct descendant, esp. a grandson.
5. Obsolete. a remote male descendant, as a grandnephew or cousin.
Origin:
1250–1300; ME neveu < OF < L nepōtem, acc. of nepōs nephew, grandson; akin to OE nefa, D neef, G Neffe, ON nefi; the pseudo-etymological sp. with ph has influenced pron.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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neph·ew   (něf'yōō)   
n.  
  1. A son of one's brother or sister or of the brother or sister of one's spouse.
  2. The illegitimate son of an ecclesiastic who has taken a vow of celibacy.

[Middle English neveu, nepheu, from Old French nevo, neveu, from Latin nepōs; see nepōt- in Indo-European roots.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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