1. Relatives on the mother's side of a family; maternal kinfolk.
Usage: plural form; formal or anthropological usage

1. Related on the mother's side; descended from the same mother.
Usage: formal or anthropological usage

Examples

• In some cultures, enates hold special ceremonial roles during family gatherings.
• The anthropologist studied the distinction between agnates and enates in the tribal kinship system.
• Her enates on her mother's side included several prominent scholars.
• Enate relationships were traced through the maternal line in this society.
• The inheritance laws favored agnates over enates in that historical period.