Skip to content
ontologydriven
Sign out

Dictionary

Words, grammatical forms and meanings linked to the ontology.

cousin en · NOUN

Pronunciation

  • /ˈkʊzn̩/ (Northern-England)
  • kŭzn
  • /ˈkʌzn̩/ (Received-Pronunciation)
  • /ˈkʌzɪn/ (General-American)
  • /ˈkɐzən/ (Australia, New-Zealand)
  • /ˈkʌz(ə)n/ (General-American)
  • (California) audio

Etymology

The noun is derived from Middle English cosin, cosine, cosyn (“blood relative, kinsman or kinswoman; any relative; nephew or niece; first cousin; grandson or granddaughter; descendant; godchild or godparent, or a relative of a godchild or godparent; (figurative) closely related or similar thing”) [and other forms], and then: * from Anglo-Norman cosen, cosin [and other forms], Middle French cosin, and Old French cosin (“collateral male relative more distant than one’s brother; form of address used by a monarch to male monarchs or nobles”) [and other forms] (modern French cousin); and * from Anglo-Norman cosine, Middle French cosine, and Old French cosine (“collateral female relative more distant than one’s sister; form of address used by a monarch to female monarchs or nobles”) [and other forms] (modern French cousine), from Latin cōnsobrīnus (“maternal cousin; first cousin; relation”) (possibly through Vulgar Latin *cōsuīnus, from *cōsobīnus), from con- (prefix denoting a bringing together of several objects) + sobrīnus (“maternal cousin; sister’s son; any nephew”) (from a noun use of Proto-Italic *swezrīnos (“of or belonging to a sister”, adjective) (with the first syllable influenced by Latin soror (“sister”)), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *swésōr (“sister”), possibly from *swé (“self”) + *h₁ésh₂r̥ (“blood”) (that is, a woman of one’s own blood) or *-sōr (feminine suffix)). The verb is derived from the noun.

Meanings

  1. Chiefly with a qualifying word: Any relation (especially a distant one) who is not a direct ancestor or descendant but part of a person's extended family; a kinsman or kinswoman.
    • Couſin Harlovve, ſaid my aunt Hervey, allovv me to ſay, That my couſin Clary's prudence may be confided in. 1748, [Samuel Richardson], “Letter VI. Miss Clarissa Harlowe, to Miss Howe.”, in Clarissa. Or, The History of a Young Lady: […], volume I, London: […] S[amuel] Richardson; [a]nd sold by A[ndrew] Millar, […], →OCLC, page 34:
    • Salute Andronicus⸝ and Junia my coſyns⸝ which were preſoners with me alſo⸝ which are wele taken amonge the apoſtles⸝ and were in Chriſt before me. 1526, [William Tyndale, transl.], The Newe Testamẽt […] (Tyndale Bible), [Worms, Germany: Peter Schöffer], →OCLC, The Epistle off the Apostle Paul to the Romanes xvj:[7], folio ccxvj, verso:
    • Hovv novv brother, vvhere is my coſen your ſonne, hath he prouided this muſique? 1598–1599 (first performance), William Shakespeare, Much Adoe about Nothing. […], quarto edition, London: […] V[alentine] S[immes] for Andrew Wise, and William Aspley, published 1600, →OCLC, [Act I, scene ii], signature B2, recto:
    • The house and park and a small estate around it were entailed on a distant cousin, and could not be alienated; […] 1826, Mary Russell Mitford, “The Old House at Aberleigh”, in Our Village: Sketches of Rural Character and Scenery, volume II, London: Geo[rge] B[yrom] Whittaker, […], →OCLC, page 244:
  2. (specifically) Chiefly with a qualifying word: Any relation (especially a distant one) who is not a direct ancestor or descendant but part of a person's extended family; a kinsman or kinswoman. ▸ Preceded by an ordinal number, as first, second, third, etc.: a person descended from a common ancestor by the same number of generations as another person.
    • […] I never knevv the marriage of ſecond Coſens forbidden, but by them vvho at the ſame time forbad the marriage of the firſt: […] And vve find that Iſaac married his ſecond Coſen, and that vvas more for it then ever could be ſaid againſt it. 1660, Jeremy Taylor, “Rule 3. The Judicial Law of Moses is Annul'd, or Abrogated, and Retains No Obliging Power either in Whole or in Part over any Christian Prince, Commonwealth, or Person.”, in Ductor Dubitantium, or the Rule of Conscience in All Her General Measures; […], volume I, London: […] James Flesher, for Richard Royston […], →OCLC, book II (Of the Rule of Conscience. […]), paragraph 89, page 318:
  3. (specifically) Chiefly with a qualifying word: Any relation (especially a distant one) who is not a direct ancestor or descendant but part of a person's extended family; a kinsman or kinswoman. ▸ When used without a qualifying word: the child of a person's parent's brother (that is, an uncle) or sister (an aunt); a cousin-german, a first cousin.
    • Although we were cousins, we grew up like sisters.
    • Despite being related by blood and commonly in the same generation, cousins can end up with completely different upbringings, class backgrounds, values, and interests. And yet, they share something rare and invaluable: They know what it’s like to be part of the same particular family. 2023 December 19, Faith Hill, “The Great Cousin Decline”, in The Atlantic:
    • Cooſen Aumarle. / Hovv far brought you high Hereford on his vvay? / […] / VVhat ſaid our couſin vvhen you parted vvith him? 1595 December 9 (first known performance), [William Shakespeare], The Tragedie of King Richard the Second. […] (First Quarto), London: […] Valentine Simmes for Androw Wise, […], published 1597, →OCLC, [Act I, scene iv], signatures C2, recto – C2, verso:
    • [O]thers vvho are allied to us at a great diſtance, as the Children of Uncles, or of Coſens, or their Children or ſuch like, reſemble thoſe parts vvhich may be cut off vvithout pain, as Hair, Nailes, and the like. 1659–1660, Thomas Stanley, “Chap[ter] III An Explication of the Pythagorick Symbolls. By Jamblichus.”, in The History of Philosophy, the Third and Last Volume, […], volume III, London: […] Humphrey Moseley, and Thomas Dring, […], →OCLC, 4th part (Containing the Sceptick Sect), page 120:
  4. (in-plural) A person of an ethnicity or nationality regarded as closely related to someone of another ethnicity or nationality.
    • Gusts of letters blow in from all corners of the British Isles. These are presently reinforced by Canada in full blast. A few weeks later the Anglo-Indians weigh in. In due course we have the help of our Australian cousins. 1916 June, Max Beerbohm, “A. V. Laider”, in Seven Men, London: William Heinemann, published 1919, →OCLC, page 147:
    • [H]e had received such good accounts from the Upper Nez Percés of their cousins, the Lower Nez Percés, that he had become desirous of knowing them as friends and brothers. 1837, Washington Irving, chapter VII, in The Rocky Mountains: Or, Scenes, Incidents, and Adventures in the Far West; […], volume II, Philadelphia, Pa.: [Henry Charles] Carey, [Isaac] Lea, & Blanchard, →OCLC, page 75:
  5. Used as a term of address for someone whom one is close to; also, (preceding a first name, sometimes capitalized as Cousin) a title for such a person.
    • I aſſure you, my dirty Couſin! thof his Skin be ſo vvhite, and to be ſure, it is the moſt vvhiteſt that ever vvas ſeen, I am a Chriſtian as vvell as he, and no-body can ſay that I am baſe born, […] 1749, Henry Fielding, “The Arrival of a Surgeon. His Operations, and a Long Dialogue between Sophia and Her Maid.”, in The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling, volume II, London: A[ndrew] Millar, […], →OCLC, book IV, page 103:
    • Marry quep, my cousin the weaver! And why the cucking-stool, I pray?—because my young lady is comely, and the young squire is a man of mettle, reverence to his beard that is yet to come? 1825 June 22, [Walter Scott], chapter IX, in Tales of the Crusaders. […], volume I (The Betrothed), Edinburgh: […] [James Ballantyne and Co.] for Archibald Constable and Co.; London: Hurst, Robinson, and Co., →OCLC, page 174:
  6. Used by a monarch to address another monarch, or a noble; specifically (UK) in commissions and writs by the Crown: used in this way to address a viscount or another peer of higher rank.
    • My noble L[ords] and Coſens all, good morrovv, / I haue beene long a ſleeper, but I hope / My abſence doth neglect no great deſignes, / VVhich by my preſence might haue been concluded. c. 1593 (date written), [William Shakespeare], The Tragedy of King Richard the Third. […] (First Quarto), London: […] Valentine Sims [and Peter Short] for Andrew Wise, […], published 1597, →OCLC, [Act III, scene iv], signature G, verso:
    • In all vvrits, and commiſſions, and other formal inſtruments, the king, vvhen he mentions any peer of the degree of an earl, alvvays ſtiles him "truſty and vvell beloved couſin:" an appellation as antient as the reign of Henry IV; vvho being either by his vvife, his mother, or his ſiſters, actually related or allied to every earl in the kingdom, artfully and conſtantly acknovvledged that connexion in all his letters and other public acts; from vvhence the uſage has deſcended to his ſucceſſors, though the reaſon has long ago failed. 1765, William Blackstone, “Of the Civil State”, in Commentaries on the Laws of England, book I (Of the Rights of Persons), Oxford, Oxfordshire: […] Clarendon Press, →OCLC, page 386:
    • Therefore vve meruaile much our Coſin France / VVould in ſo iuſt a buſineſſe, ſhut his boſome / Againſt our borrovving prayers. c. 1604–1605 (date written), William Shakespeare, “All’s Well, that Ends Well”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene i], page 241, column 1:
  7. (also, attributive, figuratively) Something kindred or related to something else; a relative.
    • The euill habit of the body, is next coſin to the dropſie, […] 1607, Conradus Gesnerus [i.e., Conrad Gessner]; Edward Topsell, “Of the Horsse”, in The Historie of Foure-footed Beastes. […], London: […] William Iaggard, →OCLC, page 385:
    • Jerry Rawlings has pissed off not only the Company (the CIA) but its cousin (the Mossad) in the Middle East. 1994, Joel Bainerman, “The Dark Side of the Israeli–American Relationship”, in Inside the Covert Operations of the CIA & Israel’s Mossad, New York, N.Y.: S.P.I. Books, →ISBN, page 18:
    • Partnering, along with its less irritating cousin "partnership", crops up all over the place, being equally useful to the lazy jargoneer and the lazy policy-maker. It has been said that there is no noun which cannot be verbed; in the same way, there is now nothing, concrete or abstract, which cannot be partnered. 2003 November 21, Tim Homfray, “What do they mean …”, in Times Educational Supplement, London: TSL Education, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 11 Nov 2023:
    • Her dolour ſoone ſhe ceaſt, and on her dight / Her Helmet, to her Courſer mounting light: / Her former ſorrovv into ſuddein vvrath, / Both cooſen paſſions of diſtroubled ſpright, / Conuerting, forth ſhe beates the duſty path; / Loue and deſpight attonce her courage kindled hath. 1590, Edmund Spenser, “Book III, Canto IIII”, in The Faerie Queene. […], London: […] [John Wolfe] for William Ponsonbie, →OCLC, stanza 12, page 447:
    • NASA has discovered an Earth-like planet orbiting around a star, which a NASA researcher called a "bigger, older cousin to Earth." 2015 July 23, Tessa Berenson, “NASA Discovers New Earth-like Planet”, in Time, New York, N.Y.: Time Inc., →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 20 Mar 2023:
    • [T]he friends that in one Couch did ſleep, / Each others blade in eithers breſt do ſteep: / And all the Camp vvith head-les dead is ſovven, / Cut-off by Cozen-ſvvords, kill'd by their ovvne. 1608, [Guillaume de Salluste] Du Bartas, “[Du Bartas His Second Weeke, […]. Abraham. […].] The Captaines. The IIII. Part of the III. Day of the II. Week.”, in Josuah Sylvester, transl., Du Bartas His Deuine Weekes and Workes […], 3rd edition, London: […] Humfrey Lownes [and are to be sold by Arthur Iohnson […]], published 1611, →OCLC, page 499:
  8. (obsolete, qualifier:cant) A female sexual partner who is not a person's wife; specifically, a prostitute.
    • Viola Svvagger vvorſe then a Lieutenant among freſhvvater ſouldiers, call me your loue, your ingle, your coſen, or ſo; but ſiſter at no hand. / Fuſt[igo]. No, no, it ſhall be cozen, or rather cuz that's the gulling vvord betvveene the Cittizens vviues and their old dames, that man em to the garden; […] [W]hy ſiſter do you thinke I'le cunny-catch you, vvhen you are my cozen? 1604 (date written), Tho[mas] Dekker, [Thomas Middleton], The Honest Whore. […] (4th quarto), London: […] Nicholas Okes for Robert Basse, […], published 1616, →OCLC, Act I, signatures B, verso – B2, recto:
  9. (obsolete, qualifier:cant) A person who is swindled; a dupe.
    • [I]f a plaine fellow well and cleanely apparelled, either in home-ſpun ruſſet or freeze (as the ſeaſon requires) with a five pouch at his girdle, happen to appeare in his ruſticall likenes: there is a Cozen ſaies one, At which word out flies the Taker, and thus giues the onſet vpon my olde Pennyfather. 1608, [Thomas Dekker], “Of Barnards Law”, in The Belman of London. […], London: […] [Edward Allde and Nicholas Okes] for Nathaniel Butter, →OCLC, signature F, verso:
  10. (obsolete, rare) A person who womanizes; a seducer, a womanizer.
    • Those whom Venus is said to rule, […] Wenchers, Leachers, Shakers, Smockers, Cousins, Cullies, Stallions and Bellibumpers; […] 1653, Francis Rabelais [i.e., François Rabelais], translated by [Thomas Urquhart, Peter Anthony Motteux], “Of the Disposition of the People this Year”, in The Works of Francis Rabelais, Doctor in Physick: Containing Five Books of the Lives, Heroick Deeds, and Sayings of Gargantua, and His Sonne Pantagruel. […], London: […] [Thomas Ratcliffe and Edward Mottershead] for Richard Baddeley, […], →OCLC; republished in volume II, London: […] Navarre Society […], [1948], →OCLC, 5th book, page 430:

Forms

SpellingFeaturesLabelsSource
cousins Number=Plur lexicographic

Deriveds

cous · ship's cousin · cuz · half first cousin · autistics and cousins · cousinred · cousiny · cousinliness · coz · cousinry · everybody and their cousin · cousinly · cousinlike · cousinize · country cousin · stepcousin · cousin prime · cater-cousin · cousinfucker · think one is God's own cousin · cousincest · cousins · everyone and their cousin · cousinless · everybody and his cousin · false cousin · cuzzy · cousinal · everyone and his cousin · cousinship · forty-second cousin · cousinhood · noncousin · Cousin John · grandcousin · cousinfucking · cousin humper

Hyponyms

neve (Terms which are hyponyms of noun sense 1) · single-first cousin (Terms which are hyponyms of noun sense 1) · cousin-brother (Terms which are hyponyms of noun sense 1) · cousin-aunt (Terms which are hyponyms of noun sense 1) · cousin-uncle (Terms which are hyponyms of noun sense 1) · second cousin once removed (Terms which are hyponyms of noun sense 1) · double first cousin (Terms which are hyponyms of noun sense 1) · first cousin thrice removed (Terms which are hyponyms of noun sense 1) · second cousin (Terms which are hyponyms of noun sense 1) · double cousin (Terms which are hyponyms of noun sense 1) · orthocousin (Terms which are hyponyms of noun sense 1) · first cousin once removed (Terms which are hyponyms of noun sense 1) · cousiness (Terms which are hyponyms of noun sense 1) · paternal cousin (Terms which are hyponyms of noun sense 1) · cousinette (Terms which are hyponyms of noun sense 1) · half-cousin (Terms which are hyponyms of noun sense 1) · parallel cousin (Terms which are hyponyms of noun sense 1) · third cousin (Terms which are hyponyms of noun sense 1) · sixth cousin (Terms which are hyponyms of noun sense 1) · full cousin (Terms which are hyponyms of noun sense 1) · cousin-sister (Terms which are hyponyms of noun sense 1) · fifth cousin (Terms which are hyponyms of noun sense 1) · maternal cousin (Terms which are hyponyms of noun sense 1) · cross cousin (Terms which are hyponyms of noun sense 1) · cousin german (Terms which are hyponyms of noun sense 1) · first cousin (Terms which are hyponyms of noun sense 1) · cousin brother (Terms which are hyponyms of noun sense 1) · cousin sister (Terms which are hyponyms of noun sense 1) · fourth cousin (Terms which are hyponyms of noun sense 1) · cross-cousin (Terms which are hyponyms of noun sense 1) · kissing cousin (Terms which are hyponyms of noun sense 1) · cousin-german (Terms which are hyponyms of noun sense 1) · cousin-in-law (Terms which are hyponyms of noun sense 1) · first cousin twice removed (Terms which are hyponyms of noun sense 1) · step-cousin (Terms which are hyponyms of noun sense 1) · half cousin (Terms which are hyponyms of noun sense 1) · half-first cousin (Terms which are hyponyms of noun sense 1)

Relateds

once removed · twice removed · thrice removed

Synonyms

dotterel · gudgeon · gull · pigeon · juggins · sheep · cully · Simple Simon · stiff · live one · sap · chump · soft touch · fish · cull · mug · dupe · sucker · muggins · chumpion · simp · mark · saphead · stooge · fall guy · steamer · rube · easy mark · cousin · schlemiel

Translations (385)

kmr kurmet (FZS) (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · uk брат у пе́рших (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · sl bratranec (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · mi tuahine (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · sei aacaz (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · vo köst (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · de Cousin (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · ja 従兄 (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · th ลูกพี่ลูกน้อง (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · ja 従姉妹 (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · oc cosin (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · az əmioğlu (FBS) (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · sv släkting (any relation (especially a distant one) who is not a direct ancestor or descendant but part of a person’s extended family) · bn বেরাদর (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · sh bratučed (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · la cōsīna (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · hi फुफेरी बहन (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · ckb ئامۆزا (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · ja いとこ (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · he דּוֹדָנִית (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · be стрые́чны брат (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · ar اِبْن خَالَة (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · krj primo (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · hak 叔伯阿哥 (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · gd mac-piuthar-seanar (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · el ξάδερφος (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · hi चचेरी बहन (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · rm cusregna (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · et nõbu (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · se vilba (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · cmn 堂弟 (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · eo gekuzo (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · sh drugobratučeda (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · pl kuzyn (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · hi फुफेरा भाई (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · tr dayıçocuğu (MBC) (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · kmr pismam (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · izh seukko (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · cy cefnder (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · ar اِبْن عَمَّة (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · hy զարմուհի (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · et tädipoeg (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · ce шича (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · tr halakızı (FZD) (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · aii ܚܸܙܡܝܼܬܵܐ (any relation (especially a distant one) who is not a direct ancestor or descendant but part of a person’s extended family) · uk двою́рідний брат (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · sc fradiri (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · sh братучед (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · uk кузе́н (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · mi teina (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · mi tungāne (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · he בת־דוד (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · twf prìmu’úna (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · tr amcakızı (FBD) (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · lt pusbrolis (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · ja 従妹 (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · fi sukulainen (any relation (especially a distant one) who is not a direct ancestor or descendant but part of a person’s extended family) · ilo kasinsin (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · is frændi (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · az xalaqızı (MZD) (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · rm cusdrin (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · ar بِنْت عَمّ (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · tr teyzekızı (MZD) (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · krl šeukku (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · cmn 表姊 (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · tr böle (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · et onupoeg (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · tr kuzin (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · ltg muosineica (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · nl kozijn (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · da kusine (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · vi em họ (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · frm cousine (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · ms sepupu (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · nb søskenbarn (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · es cousin (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · aii ܒܲܪ ܥܲܡܵܐ (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · gl primo (any relation (especially a distant one) who is not a direct ancestor or descendant but part of a person’s extended family) · az dayıoğlu (MBS) (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · vec đerman (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · kw keniterow (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · el μακρινός ξάδερφος (any relation (especially a distant one) who is not a direct ancestor or descendant but part of a person’s extended family) · ro văr (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · osp primo (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · tr amcaoğlu (FBS) (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · ga col ceathar (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · dsb śeśenica (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · et täditütar (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · fo systkinabarn (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · bth bitunggar (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · af neef (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · la cōsīnus (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · nan-hbl 叔伯小妹 (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · fa دختردائی (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · kk бөле (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · aii ܒܲܪ ܚܵܠܬܵܐ (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · aii ܒܲܪ݇ܬ ܥܲܡܬܵܐ (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · de Cousine (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · fi serkku (used by a monarch to address another monarch, or a noble) · de Base (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · ru ро́дственник (any relation (especially a distant one) who is not a direct ancestor or descendant but part of a person’s extended family) · hil primo (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · yue 堂細佬 /堂细佬 (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · cs sestřenice (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · az bibiqızı (FZD) (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · ast prima (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · eo kuziĉo (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · tr halaoğlu (FZS) (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · io kuzino (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · hak 表哥 (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · fa دخترعمه (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · kmr xizm (any relation (especially a distant one) who is not a direct ancestor or descendant but part of a person’s extended family) · ast primu (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · mk роднина (any relation (especially a distant one) who is not a direct ancestor or descendant but part of a person’s extended family) · nan-hbl 叔伯阿姊 (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · grc ἀνεψιός (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · yue 表弟 (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · ro verișor (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · qu qayri (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · ro văr (any relation (especially a distant one) who is not a direct ancestor or descendant but part of a person’s extended family) · hak 叔伯老弟 (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · az bibioğlu (FZS) (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · cmn 表姐 (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · tr dayıoğlu (MBS) (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · gd fionn-ogha sinn-sinn-seanair (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · sh drugobratučed (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · sc fradili (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · tl pinsan (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · sh bratić (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · sh рођак (any relation (especially a distant one) who is not a direct ancestor or descendant but part of a person’s extended family) · af niggie (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · aii ܒܲܪ݇ܬ ܚܵܠܬܵܐ (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · la sobrīna (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · eo kuzino (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · aii ܒܲܪ݇ܬ ܚܵܠܵܐ (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · yue 表妹 (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · ltg muosiniška (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · ka დეიდაშვილი (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · mk роднинка (any relation (especially a distant one) who is not a direct ancestor or descendant but part of a person’s extended family) · ks مامتُر بوے (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · et onutütar (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · es prima (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · rm cusdrina (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · yi שוועסטערקינד (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · kmr kurxalet (MZS) (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · sk bratranec (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · ka ბიძაშვილი (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · chn kahpo (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · ks ماستُر بوے (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · ar اِبْن عَمّ (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · tr dayıkızı (MBD) (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · sh братић (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · yue 表姐 (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · ee fo (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · he בן־דוד (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · vec darman (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · gl prima (any relation (especially a distant one) who is not a direct ancestor or descendant but part of a person’s extended family) · ro verișoară (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · hy զարմիկ (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · he בת־דודה (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · ang swēor (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · rm cusrina (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · bg братовче́дка (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · hak 叔伯老妹 (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · fa دخترعمو (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · nan-hbl 叔伯兄 (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · it cugino (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · ks مامتٕر بیٚنہِ (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · ru кузе́н (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · be кузэ́н (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · yue 堂妹 (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · cmn 堂哥 (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · mt kuġin (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · sh братучеда (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · id sepupu (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · kmr keçxalet (MZD) (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · ko 종형제 (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · hi मौसेरी बहन (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · gl curmá (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · aii ܒܲܪ ܥܲܡܬܵܐ (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · kl illuk (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · kmr keçxal (MBD) (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · ru ро́дственница (any relation (especially a distant one) who is not a direct ancestor or descendant but part of a person’s extended family) · frm cousin (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · nan-hbl 叔伯小弟 (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · km ជីដូនមួយ (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · nan-hbl 叔伯阿兄 (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · nan-hbl 表小弟 (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · mfe kouzin (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · kl illooraq (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · eo parenco (any relation (especially a distant one) who is not a direct ancestor or descendant but part of a person’s extended family) · ru двою́родная сестра́ (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · la cōnsobrīna (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · vi chị họ (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · ca cosí (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · xmf ბიძისქუა (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · hak 表姊 (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · pdc Kossin (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · fa پسردائی (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · sl sestrična (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · ko 사촌 (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · nrf couôsîn gèrmain (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · fi pikkuserkku (any relation (especially a distant one) who is not a direct ancestor or descendant but part of a person’s extended family) · cy cyfnitheroedd (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · sh rođak (any relation (especially a distant one) who is not a direct ancestor or descendant but part of a person’s extended family) · fi veljes (person of an ethnicity or nationality regarded as closely related to someone of another ethnicity or nationality) · ks پۄپھتُر بوے (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · lad primo (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · kmr kurxal (MBS) (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · ks پۄپھتٕر بیٚنہِ (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · gd mac-bràthar-màthar (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · fa پسرعمو (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · mwl primo (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · kl illoq (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · be кузі́на (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · hi मौसेरा भाई (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · twf tų̀łu’úna (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · gl prima (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · he דּוֹדָן (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · ro văr bun (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · nl volle nicht (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · ja 従姉弟 (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · sh рођакиња (any relation (especially a distant one) who is not a direct ancestor or descendant but part of a person’s extended family) · gd nighean-bràthar-athar (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · dlm cosobrain (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · ltg bruolinīks (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · tr halaçocuğu (FZC) (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · cmn 堂姊 (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · ee tsɛ (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · gl primo (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · se vilbealle (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · wa cuzene (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · he בן־דודה (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · yue 表哥 (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · fi serkku (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · yue 堂大佬 (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · aii ܚܸܙܡܵܐ (any relation (especially a distant one) who is not a direct ancestor or descendant but part of a person’s extended family) · sh другобратучед (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · fr cousine (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · ar بِنْت خَال (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · cmn 堂姐 (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · sh другобратучеда (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · ru двою́родный брат (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · nan-hbl 表姊 (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · mk бра́тучед (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · kmr mirov (any relation (especially a distant one) who is not a direct ancestor or descendant but part of a person’s extended family) · pox tetă (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · hi ममेरी बहन (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · nl neef (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · grc ἀνεψιά (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · hak 表老妹 (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · gd co-ogha (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · rm cusregn (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · es primo (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · pt prima (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · ka მამიდაშვილი (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · la cōnsobrīnus (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · mi taina (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · cy cefndryd (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · kmr dotmam (FBD) (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · lt pusseserė (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · rup ver (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · az dayıqızı (MBD) (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · rm cusrin (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · nb kusine (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · cmn 表兄 (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · cs bratranec (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · ar اِبْن خَال (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · fro cosine (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · kw kenderow (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · fa پسرعمه (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · la patruēlis (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · sh rođak (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · ar بِنْت خَالَة (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · fur cusin (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · cy cyfnither (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · sk sesternica (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · nb vetter (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · yi קווין (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · vec zerman (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · pl kuzynka (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · sh рођак (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · rup cusurin (roa-rup) (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · yag šamakuš (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · pt primo (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · vec xerman (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · nl nicht (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · sv kusin (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · mt kuġina (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · da fætter (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · io kuzo (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · sw binamu (any relation (especially a distant one) who is not a direct ancestor or descendant but part of a person’s extended family) · gd dà-ghlùn (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · krl ševotar (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · mk брату́чеда (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · se oambealle (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · eo kuzo (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · it cugina (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · yue 堂家姐 (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · dtp pinsan (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · nrf cousaine (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · nv hazeedí (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · ro vară (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · bg братовче́д (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · aii ܒܲܪ݇ܬ ܥܲܡܵܐ (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · ja 従姉 (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · nv hazeedí (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · fa دخترخاله (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · nv hoł naaʼaash (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · kmr keçmet (FZD) (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · tr kuzen (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · la sobrīnus (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · nl volle neef (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · eu lehengusu (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · oc cosina (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · eu lehengusina (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · cmn 堂妹 (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · om durbii (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · de entfernter Verwandter (any relation (especially a distant one) who is not a direct ancestor or descendant but part of a person’s extended family) · de Kusine (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · sw binamu (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · ks پِتُر بوے (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · gl curmán (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · nrf cousin (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · cmn 表弟 (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · sc fradile (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · gd mac-bràthar-athar (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · sc fradibi (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · tr yeğen (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · fi serkku (person descended from a common ancestor by the same number of generations as another person) · ru кузи́на (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · fi serkku (used as a term of address for someone whom one is close to; a title for such a person) · ceb ig-agaw (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · vi anh họ (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · fr cousin (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · hi ममेरा भाई (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · io kuzulo (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · uk кузи́на (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · de Vetter (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · mnc ᡨᠠᡵᠠ (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · mfe kouzinn (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · cmn 表哥 (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · gd nighean-bràthar-seanmhar (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · yi קווינע (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · twf kìłu’úna (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · nan-hbl 表小妹 (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · mi tuakana (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · tr amcaçocuğu (FBC) (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · tr teyzeoğlu (MZS) (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · tr teyzeçocuğu (MZC) (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · ga col ceathrair (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · fro cosin (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · cmn 堂兄 (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · ja 従兄弟 (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · lv māsīca (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · sh bratučeda (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · nrf couôsîn (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · az əmiqızı (FBD) (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · ja 従弟 (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · kmr kurmam (FBS) (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · ks ماستٕر بیٚنہِ (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · ar بِنْت عَمَّة (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · uk двою́рідна сестра́ (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · mwl prima (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · aii ܒܲܪ ܚܵܠܵܐ (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · hi चचेरा भाई (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · wa cuzén (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · ja 従兄妹 (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · hak 表老弟 (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · hu unokatestvér (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · ee daa (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · de entfernte Verwandte (any relation (especially a distant one) who is not a direct ancestor or descendant but part of a person’s extended family) · dsb śeśko (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · sh rođakinja (any relation (especially a distant one) who is not a direct ancestor or descendant but part of a person’s extended family) · hak 叔伯阿姊 (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · ca cosina (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · be стрые́чная сястра́ (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · lv brālēns (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · cmn 表妹 (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · se oarpmealle (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · az xalaoğlu (MZS) (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · ks پِتٕر بیٚنہِ (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · is frænka (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · fa پسرخاله (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister) · nan-hbl 表兄 (child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister)

cousin en · VERB

Pronunciation

  • /ˈkʊzn̩/ (Northern-England)
  • kŭzn
  • /ˈkʌzn̩/ (Received-Pronunciation)
  • /ˈkʌzɪn/ (General-American)
  • /ˈkɐzən/ (Australia, New-Zealand)
  • /ˈkʌz(ə)n/ (General-American)
  • (California) audio

Etymology

The noun is derived from Middle English cosin, cosine, cosyn (“blood relative, kinsman or kinswoman; any relative; nephew or niece; first cousin; grandson or granddaughter; descendant; godchild or godparent, or a relative of a godchild or godparent; (figurative) closely related or similar thing”) [and other forms], and then: * from Anglo-Norman cosen, cosin [and other forms], Middle French cosin, and Old French cosin (“collateral male relative more distant than one’s brother; form of address used by a monarch to male monarchs or nobles”) [and other forms] (modern French cousin); and * from Anglo-Norman cosine, Middle French cosine, and Old French cosine (“collateral female relative more distant than one’s sister; form of address used by a monarch to female monarchs or nobles”) [and other forms] (modern French cousine), from Latin cōnsobrīnus (“maternal cousin; first cousin; relation”) (possibly through Vulgar Latin *cōsuīnus, from *cōsobīnus), from con- (prefix denoting a bringing together of several objects) + sobrīnus (“maternal cousin; sister’s son; any nephew”) (from a noun use of Proto-Italic *swezrīnos (“of or belonging to a sister”, adjective) (with the first syllable influenced by Latin soror (“sister”)), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *swésōr (“sister”), possibly from *swé (“self”) + *h₁ésh₂r̥ (“blood”) (that is, a woman of one’s own blood) or *-sōr (feminine suffix)). The verb is derived from the noun.

Meanings

  1. (rare, transitive) To address (someone) as "cousin".
    • At length she seemed to relent, or changed her tactics, for she looked over his shoulder as he sketched, and Cousined him two or three times as usual. 1857 September, “A Winter in the South”, in Harper’s New Monthly Magazine, volume XV, number LXXXVIII, New York, N.Y.: Harper & Brothers, […], →OCLC, pages 441–442:
    • [N]o, no, let me alone to cozen you rarely. 1604 (date written), Tho[mas] Dekker, [Thomas Middleton], The Honest Whore. […] (4th quarto), London: […] Nicholas Okes for Robert Basse, […], published 1616, →OCLC, Act I, signature B, verso:
    • Though he called Mrs. Merrit aunt, and cousined all her daughters, he was really no relative whatever. His father dying when he was a small boy, he had been kindly adopted by that father's step-brother, who had married into the Merritt family. 1893, Fannie E[llsworth] Newberry, “Some of Beth’s Friends”, in The Odd One, Boston, Mass.: A. I. Bradley & Company, →OCLC, page 29:
  2. (also, rare, reflexive, transitive) To regard (oneself or someone) as a cousin to another person.
    • Let me say in the beginning that even if I wanted to avoid Texas I could not, for I am wived in Texas and mother-in-lawed and uncled and aunted and cousined within an inch of my life. 1962 July, John Steinbeck, “Part 1”, in Travels with Charley in Search of America, London: William Heinemann, published 1962, →OCLC, page 201:
    • [T]he old gentleman took me into the house and introduced me to the family, where I was at once cousined by them all. 1877 May 28, J[acob] Sam[ue]l Vandersloot, quoting Cyrus Sturdivant, “‘To God be All Praise’”, in The True Path; or, The Murphy Movement and Gospel Temperance. […], Philadelphia, Pa.: William Flint, […], published 1877, →OCLC, page 244:
    • Mrs. M[uddlebrain]. […] Mary, who is this young man? / Mary. That's my cousin, ma'am, just stept in to lend us a helping hand in placing the things. / […] / Shuffle. What the devil did she say about a tall grenadier, and the pantry? Mrs. Shuffle! Mrs. Shuffle! / Mary. Hush! Are you mad? Do you want to tell all the world that we're married, and get me turned away? / Shuffle. No; but the grenadier? / Mary. Came to see the cook; so to prevent all the fat being in the fire, I cousined him, and made him a relation. / Shuffle. Yes; and remember you've cousined me too. 1833, G. Herbert Rodwell, The Chimney Piece. A Farce, in One Act. […] (Miller’s Modern Acting Drama, […]; no. 5), London: John Miller, […], →OCLC, scene i, page 2:
    • [A] maiden well braced in nerve and muscle, / Far from sensual ease, to be mother of lustiest Britons, / Cousined to Romans in strength and in breadth of masterful Empire. 1885 July, Scotigena Oxoniensis [pseudonym], “London. I. The Row and Westminster. Epistle to a Friend.”, in Blackwood’s Edinburgh Magazine, volume CXXXVIII, number DCCCXXXVII, Edinburgh; London: William Blackwood & Sons, […], →OCLC, page 135:
    • O Donald, thou wert the boy, / Steel to the bone, and like thee none! / Cousined wert thou to the great Clan Chattan, / Thou, the nodding cliff's foster son. 1885 September, “The Old Owl of the Sron”, in [John Stuart] Blackie, transl., edited by Alexander Mackenzie, The Celtic Magazine: […], volume X, number CXIX, Inverness, Inverness-shire: A[lexander] & W. Mackenzie, […], →OCLC, page 522:
  3. (US, informal, intransitive, regional) To associate with someone or something on a close basis.
    • In an appendix to The Mechanic Muse, he [Hugh Kenner] finds Victorian symbolist practice serving to release the signifier from centuries of post-Enlightenment confusion about the proper wedding (or at least cousining) of word and thing. 1999, Garrett Stewart, “Modernism and the Flicker Effect”, in Between Film and Screen: Modernism’s Photo Synthesis, Chicago, Ill.; London: University of Chicago Press, →ISBN, page 310:
    • [P]atients would escape into the town for a bit of a fling or "cousining" as it was called. "Cousining" was a Saranac Lake euphemism that applied to a couple, both of them patients and sometimes already married with a spouse living far away, who spent time together or dated each other. 2007, Caperton Tissot, quoting Elise Chapin, “Some Offered Healing, Some Found Healing”, in Willem Tissot, editor, History between the Lines: Women’s Lives and Saranac Lake Customs, Jay, N.Y.: Graphics North, →ISBN, pages 110–111:
    • The UK has fiscal arithmetic cousined with that of Greece, but is dealing with it. 2012, David Roche, Bob McKee, “The Moral Failure of Democracy”, in Democrisis: Democracy Caused the Debt Crisis. Will It Survive It?, [London]: Independent Strategy, →ISBN, pages 12–13:
  4. (US, informal, intransitive, regional) To visit a cousin or other relation.
    • You know when you get up in the morning that you have a certain quantity of cousining to go through before the day is over, and you make up your mind to it; read a page of Seneca, add a verse to your litany, and commit yourself to Providence, like a wise man and a Christian. 1836 July, “A Chapter on Cousins”, in Dublin University Magazine, volume VIII, number XLIII, Dublin: William Curry, Jun. and Company; London: Simpkin, Marshall, and Co., →OCLC, page 28, column 1:
    • It isn't the thing for a man to be like a stranger to his own flesh and blood. I'm going cousining, Sue, down East, and I'll hunt up my relations. 1887 June, Herminius Cobb, “[The Household.] Mr. Blossom Visits His Relations.”, in The American Magazine: Supplement, volume I (New Series; volume VI overall), number 2, New York, N.Y.: The American Magazine Company, […]; London: The Christian Million Company, →OCLC, page 245, column 1:
    • The pretty wren perches now in the Governor's house—a-cousining, a-cousining. 1895, Gilbert Parker, “As Vain as Absalom”, in The Seats of the Mighty […], Toronto, Ont.: The Copp, Clark Company, published 1896, →OCLC, page 87:
    • In 1878 they were married in the Mormon Temple in St. George, 300 miles away, and he drove her back home in a hay wagon in eight days. They "cousined" (stopped with relatives) all the way. 1959 January 5, “An 80th Wedding Anniversary”, in Henry R[obinson] Luce, editor, Life, volume 46, number 1, Chicago, Ill.; New York, N.Y.: Time Inc., →ISSN, →OCLC, page 78:
    • Who then that has a cousin, has aught to say against cousining? We do indeed often her sneeringly the expression of "Dutch cousining" or "Yankee cousining," as if there was something mean in the act of visiting those who are "next of kin." To such as do it, I feel an unconquerable aversion or excessive pity; as they appear censorious or betray a stupidity that cannot feel a consanguine tie beyond their hearth. 1845 October 20, B. C. True, “Cousining in Autumn”, in Thomas L. Harris, John Tanner, editors, The Gavel: A Monthly Periodical Devoted to Odd Fellowship and General Literature, volume II, number 3, Albany, N.Y.: John Tanner, published November 1845, →OCLC, page 80:

Forms

SpellingFeaturesLabelsSource
cousined Tense=Past, VerbForm=Part lexicographic
cousined Tense=Past lexicographic
cousins Number=Sing, Person=3, Tense=Pres lexicographic
cousining Tense=Pres, VerbForm=Part lexicographic

Translations (4)

fi veljeillä (to associate with someone on a close basis) · fi pitää serkkuna (to regard (oneself or someone) as a cousin to another person) · fi serkutella (to address (someone) as “cousin”) · fi käydä serkulla (to visit a cousin or other relation)