1. related through male ancestors or on the father’s side
Usage: legal; formal

1. a relative descended from the same male ancestor
Usage: legal; formal

Examples

• In Roman law, agnate relatives had specific inheritance rights.
• The agnate line of descent was traced through the father’s family.
• His agnate cousins shared the same grandfather on his father’s side.
• The property passed to the nearest agnate heir.
• Agnate relationships were distinguished from cognate ones in ancient legal systems.
• She studied the agnate connections in her family genealogy.