agnation

from WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006)

agnation
    n 1: line of descent traced through the paternal side of the
         family [syn: {patrilineage}, {agnation}]

from The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

Agnation \Ag*na"tion\, n. [L. agnatio: cf. F. agnation.]
   1. (Civil Law) Consanguinity by a line of males only, as
      distinguished from {cognation}. --Bouvier.
      [1913 Webster]

from Bouvier's Law Dictionary, Revised 6th Ed (1856)

AGNATION, in descents. The relation by blood which exists between such males
as are descended from the same father; in distinction from cognation or
consanguinity, which includes the descendants from females. This term is
principally used in the civil law.

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