Family Relationships
Definitions and Samples
1. ancestral adj. Relating to family members from earlier generations
Sweden is my ancestral homeland, from which my greatgrandfather
emigrated in 1922.
Parts of speech ancestor n, ancestry n
2. cohesion n. Ability to stay together as a unit
Family cohesion is difficult if young people have to go far away to
find work.
Usage tips Cohesion can also be used to describe forces that keep
materials or structures together.
Parts of speech cohere v, cohesiveness n
3. descendant n. A direct relative in a later generation (such as one’s
son, daughter, or grandchild)
Billy Sobieski claimed to be a descendant of Jan Sobieski, a former
king of Poland.
Usage tips Descendant is often followed by an of phrase.
Parts of speech descend v, descent n
4. inheritance n. Things passed down to you from your ancestors
My inheritance from my grandmother included her favorite
necklace.
Parts of speech inherit v, inheritor n
5. kin n. Relatives
Even though my uncle didn’t really like me, he was kind to me because
we were kin.
Usage tips A common phrase is next of kin, meaning “closest
relative.”
Parts of speech kinship n
6. legitimate adj. True and respectable; in the context of family, born of
a mother and father who were married to each other
You can skip the meeting if you have a legitimate reason.
Harcourt had two legitimate children with his wife Hannah and one
illegitimate son with a woman whom he met while traveling.
Usage tips The opposite of legitimate is illegitimate.
Parts of speech legitimize v, legitimacy n
7. paternal adj. Relating to a father
My mother’s parents have both died, but my paternal grandparents
are still alive.
Usage tips Paternal may appear with maternal, meaning “relating to
a mother.”
8. proximity n. Nearness
The house was comfortable, except for its proximity to a busy road.
Usage tips Proximity can be followed by an of phrase or a to phrase.
Parts of speech proximate adj
9. sentiment n. Feelings; opinion based on feelings
I share your sentiments about air travel, but I disagree that cars are
safer.
Usage tips Sentiments (the plural) is more common than sentiment.
Parts of speech sentimentality n, sentimental adj
10. sibling n. Brother or sister
My siblings and I got together to buy our parents a gift for their
anniversary.
Usage tips Sibling is often preceded by a possessive noun or pronoun.
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Friendship
Definitions and Samples
1. affection n. An emotional closeness or warmth
I show affection for my girlfriend by spending time with her, not by
spending money on her.
Usage tips Affection is often followed by a for phrase.
Parts of speech affectionate adj
2. associate v. To regularly spend time together
Carol doesn’t associate with people who smoke.
Usage tips Associate is often followed by a with phrase.
Parts of speech association n, associate n
3. bond n. A close connection
Some researchers say that there is an especially strong emotional
bond between twins.
Usage tips A between phrase—indicating the things that are
connected—often follows bond.
Parts of speech bond v
4. clique n. A small group of friends who are unfriendly to people outside
the group
High-schoolers form cliques to gain security and acceptance.
Usage tips Clique indicates a negative feeling toward a group.
Parts of speech cliquish adj
5. confide v. To tell very personal things
Teenagers are more willing to confide in a friend than in a parent.
Usage tips Confide is almost always followed by an in phrase.
Parts of speech confidence n, confidant n, confidential adj
6. exclusive adj. Keeping out all but a few people
The most exclusive universities accept only a small percentage of
people who want to attend.
Usage tips Exclusive can indicate a positive opinion, but in the
context of friendship, it can mean “attached only to one person.”
Parts of speech exclude v, exclusion n, exclusively adv
7. fluctuate v. To change often, from one condition to another
Earth’s climate fluctuates between warm periods and cold periods.
Usage tips Fluctuate is usually followed by a between phrase (or by a
from . . . to structure).
Parts of speech fluctuation n
8. in common adv. As a shared characteristic
Billy and Heather have a lot in common—basketball, a love of
pizza, and an interest in snakes.
Usage tips In common very often appears with the verb to have.
9. solidarity n. Standing together despite pressure to move apart
Many student groups declared solidarity with the Latino Student
Association in their effort to get a Spanish-speaking principal.
Usage tips Solidarity is usually used in political contexts.
10. willing adj. Agreeable and ready to do something
Because of their long friendship, Professor Gardner was willing to
say a few words at Jones’s birthday celebration.
Usage tips Willing is almost always followed by a to + verb
structure.
Parts of speech will v, will n, willingness n
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Passion
1. complex adj. Not simple; involving many parts that work together
A modern car engine is too complex for most car owners to repair
by themselves.
Parts of speech complexity n
2. despondent adj. Extremely sad and without hope for the future
After his girlfriend left him, Johnson was despondent and wouldn’t
talk to anyone.
3. devotion n. A willingness to keep supporting someone you admire
Grant showed great devotion to his wife, supporting her during her
long illness.
Usage tips Devotion is often followed by a to phrase.
Parts of speech devote v, devotee n
4. dilemma n. A difficult choice between two things
I was caught in a dilemma between traveling by airplane and taking
a train, which is slower but more comfortable.
5. engender v. To bring into being; to cause to exist
The government’s warnings about terrorism engendered fear
throughout the nation.
Usage tips Engender is often followed by a noun for an emotion.
6. loyal adj. Faithful
Carter was loyal to his girlfriend and would not date anyone else.
Usage tips Loyal is often followed by a to phrase.
Parts of speech loyalty n, loyally adv
7. passion n. An extremely strong emotion, like love or anger
Debbie complained that there was no passion in her marriage.
Parts of speech passionate adj, passionately adv
8. proliferation n. An increase in the number of something and in the
number of places it can be found
The proliferation of fast-food restaurants has made it harder for
Americans to eat healthy lunches.
Usage tips Proliferation is very often followed by an of phrase.
Parts of speech proliferate v
9. reciprocity n. Doing as much for another as he or she has done for you
Dan was giving a lot of attention to Kelly, but he felt no reciprocity
in their relationship.
Parts of speech reciprocate v, reciprocal adj
10. vanish v. To disappear suddenly
When the sun came out, last night’s light snowfall vanished.