Family & Relationships

homecoming C2

/ˈhoʊmˌkʌmɪŋ/ a coming to or returning home M S

elope C2

/iˈloʊp/ to leave secretly in order to marry, or to marry privately without a public ceremony or advance announcement M S

bridesmaid C2

/ˈbraɪdzˌmeɪd/ a person, traditionally a woman, who attends and supports a bride at a wedding M S

paternity C2

/pəˈtɜːnɪti/ the state of being a father M S

pap C2

/pæp/ US dialect: father; pa M S

matchmaker C2

/ˈmæt͡ʃˌmeɪkɚ/ someone who arranges (or tries to arrange) marriages for others M S

conjugal C2

/ˈkɑnd͡ʒəɡəl/ relating to marriage or the relationship between spouses M S

amour C2

/əˈmʊɹ/ a love affair, especially one kept secret or considered illicit M S

wedlock C2

/ˈwɛd.lɑːk/ the state of being married, especially in the phrases in wedlock and out of wedlock M S

godson C2

/ˈɡɑdˌsʌn/ a male godchild, especially one whose baptism is sponsored by a godparent M S

monogamy C2

/məˈnɑː.ɡə.mi/ the practice or state of being married to only one person at a time M S

née C2

/neɪ/ used before a married woman's birth surname M S

betrothal C2

/bɪˈtroʊ.ðəl/ a formal agreement or mutual promise to marry; an engagement M S

matrimonial C2

/ˌmætrəˈmoʊniəl/ relating to marriage or to the relationship between married partners M S

kinsman C2

/ˈkɪnzmən/ a male relative, especially one belonging to the same extended family; now often literary or historical M S

procreate C2

/ˌpɹəʊkɹiˈeɪt/ have offspring or produce more individuals of a given animal or plant M S

spousal C2

/ˈspaʊzəl/ relating to a spouse M S

incestuous C2

/ɪnˈsɛs.tʃu.əs/ involving or characterized by sexual relations between people too closely related to marry legally M S

virginal C2

/ˈvɜː(ɹ)d͡ʒɪnəl/ Pure and untouched; like a virgin. M S

foundling C2

/ˈfaʊndlɪŋ/ an abandoned infant or child whose parents are unknown M S

suckle C2

/ˈsʌk.əl/ to feed by drawing milk from a breast or udder M S

endearment C2

/ɪnˈdɪrmənt/ a word, name, gesture, or action that expresses affection M S

sterility C2

/stɝˈɪlɪti/ The condition of being unable to produce children or offspring. M S

correlate C2

/ˈkɔɹəleɪt/ To have a close connection or relationship with something else, so that they change together. M S

banns C2

/bænz/ a public announcement, traditionally made in church, of an intended marriage M S

kinfolk C2

/ˈkɪnfoʊk/ old-fashioned or regional: one's relatives or family considered collectively M S

assignation C2

/ˌæsɪɡˈneɪʃən/ often dated: a secret appointment to meet, especially between lovers M S

groomsman C2

/ˈɡruːmzmən/ a man who attends and supports a bridegroom at a wedding M S

childbearing C2

/ˈtʃaɪldˌbɛɹɪŋ/ the process or period of carrying and giving birth to children M S

swaddle C2

/ˈswɑːdəl/ to wrap a baby closely in cloth so that its arms and legs are held securely M S

grandmamma C2

/ˌɡrændməˈmɑ/ Grandmother. M S

patronymic C2

/ˌpætrəˈnɪmɪk/ a name derived from the given name of a person's father or a male ancestor M S

monogamist C2

/məˈnɑːɡəmɪst/ a person who has only one spouse or romantic partner at a time, or who advocates that practice M S

polyamorous C2

/ˌpɑliˈæmərəs/ involving or open to romantic relationships with more than one partner, with everyone informed and consenting M S

jilt C2

/dʒɪlt/ to suddenly reject or abandon a romantic partner, especially shortly before an expected marriage M S

betroth C2

/bəˈtɹoʊð/ to formally promise someone in marriage or become formally engaged to marry M S

grandsire C2

/ˈɡrændsaɪɹ/ a grandfather, especially in old-fashioned or literary language M S

connubial C2

/kəˈnubiəl/ relating to marriage or the relationship between spouses M S

cohabit C2

/koʊˈhæbɪt/ to live together as an intimate couple, especially without being married M S

coquetry C2

/ˈkoʊkətri/ playfully flirtatious behavior intended to attract interest, often without serious romantic intent M S

kinswoman C2

/ˈkɪnzwʊmən/ a female relative; a woman belonging to the same family or kin group M S

inamorata C2

/ɪnˌæməˈrɑːtə/ literary or humorous: a woman with whom someone is in love; a female lover M S

dandle C2

/ˈdændəl/ to move a baby or small child playfully up and down in one's arms or on one's knee M S

filiation C2

/ˌfɪliˈeɪʃən/ the relationship of a child to a parent, especially as legally or genealogically established M S

consanguinity C2

/kɑnsæŋˈɡwɪnɪti/ relationship by descent from a common ancestor; blood kinship M S

misalliance C2

/ˌmɪsəˈlaɪəns/ an unsuitable or ill-judged partnership or alliance M S

nursling C2

/ˈnɝzlɪŋ/ literary: a young child or animal being nursed or cared for M S

amatory C2

/ˈæməˌtɔri/ literary: relating to or expressive of romantic or sexual love M S

fosterage C2

/ˈfɑstərɪdʒ/ the practice or process of raising another person's child as one's own, especially as a historical social custom M S

affiance C2

/əˈfaɪəns/ archaic: to promise someone in marriage; to betroth M S

exogamy C2

/ɛkˈsɑːɡəmi/ marriage outside a defined kinship or social group, especially when required by custom or law M S

hymeneal C2

/ˌhaɪməˈniəl/ relating to marriage or a wedding; nuptial, chiefly in literary use M S

sonship C2

/ˈsʌnʃɪp/ the state, status, or relation of being a son M S

amorist C2

/ˈæm.ər.ɪst/ a person devoted to love or lovemaking; a lover M S

polyandrist C2

/ˌpɑliˈændrɪst/ a person who practices polyandry; in its marital sense, a woman who has more than one husband at the same time M S

stirp C2

/stɝp/ a line of descent from a common ancestor; a stock or lineage M S

pickney C2

/ˈpɪk.ni/ Caribbean, especially Jamaican, informal: a child M S