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kindred

adjective
kin·​dred | \ ˈkin-drəd How to pronounce kindred (audio) \

Definition of kindred

 (Entry 1 of 2)

1 : of a similar nature or character : like a kindred spirit
2 : of the same ancestry kindred tribes

kindred

noun

Definition of kindred (Entry 2 of 2)

1a : a group of related individuals
b : one's relatives … if his kindred still remain to him …— Alexis de Tocqueville
2 : family relationship : kinship
Synonyms & Antonyms Did You Know? More Example Sentences Learn More about kindred

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Synonyms & Antonyms for kindred

Synonyms: Adjective

affiliated, akin, allied, related

Synonyms: Noun

blood, clan, family, folks, house, kin, kinfolk (or kinfolks), kinsfolk, line, lineage, people, race, stock, tribe

Antonyms: Adjective

unrelated

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Did You Know?

Noun

If you believe that advice and relatives are inseparable, the etymology of kindred will prove you right. "Kindred" comes from a combination of "kin" and the Old English word ræden ("condition"), which itself comes from the verb rædan, meaning "to advise." "Kindred" entered English as a noun first, in the 12th century. That noun, which can refer to a group of related individuals or to one's own relatives, gave rise to the adjective "kindred" in the 14th century.

Examples of kindred in a Sentence

Adjective

 philosophy, political theory, and kindred topics I believe she and I are kindred spirits . German and English are kindred languages.

Noun

 He went out to sea, and never saw his kindred again. the kingdom's royal kindred actually numbers in the thousands
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Recent Examples on the Web: Adjective

 Onwuachi’s mind remains tethered to chefs like himself — young, black and in need of figure to view as a kindred spirit in the food world. — Justin Phillips, SFChronicle.com, "Kwame Onwuachi speaks about turning his memoir into a film: ‘We’re reaching a different, wider audience’," 16 July 2019 Time together with kindred spirits opens a door for many who were reticent about their military experience. — Caryn M. Sullivan, Twin Cities, "Caryn M. Sullivan: The heart and muscle behind Honor Flight Twin Cities," 4 July 2019 This light acted as a beacon that attracted kindred spirits toward me. — Angela Watercutter And Samantha Cooper, WIRED, "5 Queer People on How They Found Their Chosen Families," 28 June 2019 Many conservatives see in the tax-cutting, Cold War–fighting John Kennedy a kindred spirit. — Kevin D. Williamson, National Review, "The Democrats Are the Socialist Party Again," 20 June 2019 These groups have found kindred spirits among politicians in New York and New England, with their steadfast refusal to allow the building of pipelines and their hardline positions on fracking. — Debra Cagan, Houston Chronicle, "Comment: In maintaining Jones Act, the winner is Putin," 19 June 2019 In another parallel with her kindred spirit Celeste, Bonnie’s emotional detachment has caused her husband, Madeline’s ex Nathan, to call in Bonnie’s mom, Elizabeth (Crystal Fox), to come stay with them, without telling Bonnie in advance. — Aja Romano, Vox, "Big Little Lies season 2, episode 2: “Tell-Tale Hearts” asks if families can survive their own secrets," 17 June 2019 Nor could its kindred districts across the nation, including Birmingham’s Fourth Avenue. — Roy S. Johnson | Rjohnson@al.com, al.com, "Johnson: Birmingham’s downtown revival can’t leave once-thriving district behind," 6 June 2019 At a dinner for Greenpeace, Veja cofounder Sébastien Kopp was seated next to Christophe Lemaire, who turned out to be a kindred spirit. — Emily Farra, Vogue, "Lemaire’s Collaboration With Veja Includes Sustainable, 3-D Knitted Sneakers Inspired By Diving Shoes," 6 Mar. 2019

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

 Owned and operated by kindred of the Loch lineage and frequented by several generations of families, Ricardo's Pizza has been in business since 1970. — Chris Barlow, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Ricardo's Pizza: Family run place thrives in Greendale," 12 Dec. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'kindred.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of kindred

Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

History and Etymology for kindred

Adjective

attributive use of kindred entry 2

Noun

Middle English kynrede "family, lineage, blood relations, kinship, nation," going back to late Old English cynrǣden "kinship" (attested once as kynrædan, accusative or dative), from cynn "progeny, kin entry 1" + -rǣden, suffixal use of rǣden "condition, stipulation," derivative (in -enn-, feminine noun suffix, going back to *inj-) probably from the base of gerǣde "prepared, ready," gerād "conditioned, disposed" — more at ready entry 1

Note: The noun rǣden, also attested in the senses "rule, direction" and "estimation," has been taken as a derivative of the verb rǣdan "to advise, deliberate, direct," etc. (see read entry 1), though these usages may reflect partial merger with rǣding, the verbal noun of rǣdan. In general, the outcomes of Germanic *raidja- and *rēd- can be difficult to separate in Old English.

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More Definitions for kindred

kindred

adjective
How to pronounce kindred (audio)

English Language Learners Definition of kindred

 (Entry 1 of 2)

formal
: alike or similar
: closely related

kindred

noun

English Language Learners Definition of kindred (Entry 2 of 2)

old-fashioned : a person's relatives

See the full definition for kindred in the English Language Learners Dictionary

kindred

adjective
kin·​dred | \ ˈkin-drəd How to pronounce kindred (audio) \

Kids Definition of kindred

 (Entry 1 of 2)

: alike in nature or character There will be skiing, sledding, and kindred activities.

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