nephew

UK: ˈnefjuː | US: ˈnefjuː

Definition
  1. n. a son of one's sibling or sibling-in-law

  2. n. (archaic) a descendant or younger male relative

Structure
neph <grandson/descendant>ew <male suffix>neph <grandson/descendant>ew <male suffix>
Etymology

The word "nephew" traces back to Latin nepos, which broadly meant "grandson" or "descendant." In Old French, it evolved into neveu, retaining the sense of a male descendant but narrowing to focus on siblings' sons. English borrowed it in the 13th century, preserving the familial meaning. Over time, "nephew" specialized to mean specifically a brother's or sister's son, while the broader sense of "descendant" faded.

Examples
  1. My nephew just started his first year at university.

  2. She gifted her nephew a toy train for his birthday.

  3. In the will, he left a portion of his estate to his nephew.

  4. The king’s nephew was next in line for the throne.

  5. (Archaic) "The nobleman welcomed his nephews and nieces to the family gathering."