kindred means of the same nature, or of similar character.
Among words judged in Lexicurio's Arena, kindred ranks #2,592 of 14,423 for Most Sublime Words, #7,084 of 14,414 for Most Elegant Words, #7,100 of 14,440 for Most Satisfying to Say, #7,127 of 14,431 for Most Betrayed by Its Sound.
kindred is pronounced /ˈkɪndɹɪd/.
Why “kindred” is a great word
A bond forged by blood, marriage, or a profound resonance in nature, character, or origin. From Middle English *kyndrede*, from Old English *cynrēd*/*cynrǣden* ("kindred, family"), from *cynn* ("kin, family, race") + *-rǣden* ("condition, state"). Unlike "akin," which implies a looser, figurative similarity in temperament, or "cognate," a term restricted to words of common linguistic ancestry, "kindred" describes the thicker covenant of clan, the elective affinity of spirit, or the fateful echo across time. It is the quiet recognition in a stranger's eyes, the weight of a shared surname in a dusty ledger, and the ancestral pull of a melody whose words you have never learned—the profound comfort and burden of belonging to something older and larger than oneself.
Etymology
From Middle English kyndrede, from older kynrede (“kindred”), from Old English *cynrēd, *cynrǣden (“kindred, family, stock”), from cynn (“kind, kin, lineage”) + -rǣden (“condition, state”). Equivalent to kin + -red, see these. The -d- is epenthetic between a nasal and a liquid (as e.g. in spindle).
adj
- Of the same nature, or of similar character.“the kindred relationship between neuroscience and neurology”
- Connected, related, cognate, akin.“kindred tongues”
name
- A surname.
- A city and town in North Dakota.
- A locality in Central Coast Council, northern Tasmania, Australia.
noun
- Distant and close relatives, collectively; kin.
- People of the same ethnic descent, not including speaker; brethren.“*Behold he commeth with clouds, and euery eye ſhal ſee him,and they alſo which pearced him: and all kinreds of the earth ſhall waıle becauſe of him: euen ſo. Amen.”
- A grouping of relatives.“Cla. By heauen, I thinke there is no man ſecure / But the Queenes Kindred, and night-walking Heralds,[…]”
- Blood relationship.“He that is in Distress tho' a stranger has a right to claim kindred with the wealthy—”
- Affinity, likeness.
- One who is kindred, literally or figuratively; a kin, kinsman.“And what I wouldn't give to find a soulmate?/Someone else to catch this drift/And what I wouldn't give to meet a kindred?”
- A household or group following the modern pagan faith of Heathenry or Ásatrú.“We talked with Jonina about our kindred, Heathenry in the United States, Asatru in Iceland, and the details of our religious practice.[…]”
Words closest in meaning
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