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kinsman

noun (plural kinsmen)

«kinsman» in the English dictionary: everyday and in Jewish tradition and Early Modern English — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

Everyday

A male relative, a man of your own family. tree →

In the lessons

in old tales, a lord's cousin or nephew who is his helper or heir

Examples

  • The king trusted his kinsman. tree →
  • My kinsman will bring the horses. tree →
  • Find Eidoel, the son of Aer, his kinsman. tree →

Note

nothing for maths

In Jewish tradition

The nearest kinsman had duties to buy back family land that was sold from poverty, and he is called the redeemer.

Interpretation. This law keeps land within the family and shows that relatives are responsible for helping each other in hard times.

Examples

  • And if his father have no brethren, then ye shall give his inheritance unto his kinsman that is next to him of his family, and he shall possess it. (Torah NUM.27.11, JPS 1917) tree →
  • If thy brother be waxen poor, and sell some of his possession, then shall his kinsman that is next unto him come, and shall redeem that which his brother hath sold. (Torah LEV.25.25, JPS 1917) tree →
  • And now is there not Boaz our kinsman, with whose maidens thou wast? (Writings RUT.3.2, JPS 1917) tree →
  • So the near kinsman said unto Boaz: 'Buy it for thyself.' And he drew off his shoe. (Writings RUT.4.8, JPS 1917) tree →
  • And now it is true that I am a near kinsman; howbeit there is a kinsman nearer than I. (Writings RUT.3.12, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

nothing for maths

Early Modern English

Meaning

A male relative, a man of the same family. tree →

Then and now

Today we say "relative" or "cousin", and "kinsman" is old and formal. The sentences use the same sense as today.

Examples

  • And if his father have no brethren, then ye shall give his inheritance unto his kinsman that is next to him of his family, and he shall possess it. (Torah NUM.27.11, JPS 1917) tree →
  • "Do bring them to life, kinsman," say their relatives. (Russian Fairy Tales: A Choice Collection of Muscovite Folk-lore) tree →
  • If thy brother be waxen poor, and sell some of his possession, then shall his kinsman that is next unto him come, and shall redeem that which his brother hath sold. (Torah LEV.25.25, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

Today: relative.

On Mova

This page in Markdown → https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/kinsman/