Definition of cognate

• a. - Allied by blood; kindred by birth; specifically (Law), related on the mother's side.
• a. - Of the same or a similar nature; of the same family; proceeding from the same stock or root; allied; kindred; as, a cognate language.
• n. - One who is related to another on the female side.
• n. - One of a number of things allied in origin or nature; as, certain letters are cognates.