kinship
UK: ˈkɪnʃɪp | US: ˈkɪnʃɪp
n. 1. A close connection marked by shared origin, characteristics, or feelings; familial relationship.
n. 2. A feeling of understanding or affinity between people.
The word "kinship" combines "kin," an Old English term for family or relatives (from "cynn," meaning "family" or "race"), with the suffix "-ship," which denotes a state or condition (from Old English "-scipe," akin to modern "-hood" or "-ness"). The term evolved to describe both biological relationships and metaphorical bonds of shared identity or empathy. Its logic reflects the Germanic tradition of using "-ship" to abstractly qualify nouns (e.g., "friendship," "hardship").
The kinship between the siblings was evident in their mutual support.
Cultural kinship often transcends geographical boundaries.
She felt a deep kinship with the artist’s work.
Anthropologists study kinship systems to understand social structures.
Their shared love of music created an unexpected kinship.