matrilineal Hear it!

matrilineal Definition

mat·ri·lin·eal (ma′trə lin′ē əl, mā′trə-)

adjective

designating or of descent, kinship, or derivation through the mother

Etymology: matri- + lineal

matrilineal Related Forms
mat′·ri·lin′·eally adverb
matrilineal Usage Examples

Modifies a noun

  • descent: King David I was the last to succeed to the throne by matrilineal descent ( from the mother's line ).
  • society: A matrilineal society is being produced, with about one third of children raised by single mothers [ 7 ] .
  • line: His mitochondrial test - which traces the matrilineal line - connected him to the Tikar tribe, who cluster in present-day Cameroon.
  • group: Example: Do women hold more political and economic power societies with matrilineal kin groups than in societies with patrilineal kin groups?
  • system: I wish it had been possible to examine matrilineal descent systems with ancestor cults.
  • sib: The phratries are divided into many named, matrilineal sibs, each of which is restricted to a specific locality.