cognate UK /ˈkɒɡn(e)ɪt/US /ˈkɑɡn(e)ɪt/noun 4adjective 3forms 1 noun4 •One of a number of things allied in origin or nature. •A word either descended from the same base word of the same ancestor language as the given word, or judged to be a regular reflex of the same reconstructed root of proto-language as the given word. •(old-fashioned) One who is related to another on the female side. •(old-fashioned) One who is related to another, both having descended from a common ancestor through legal marriages. adjective3 •Allied by blood; kindred by birth; specifically (law) related on the mother's side. •Of the same or a similar nature; of the same family; proceeding from the same stock or root. •Descended from the same source lexemes (same etymons) of an ancestor language. formscognates