The New Murrey and Blue blog

A recursive definitition

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I really hate seeing this first word abused, so here goes:

ANCESTOR: One of your parents or their ancestors.

COLLATERAL ANCESTOR: The sibling of an ancestor.

The cousin, however close or distant, of an ancestor does not fit either definition.

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  1. Helen Larsen Avatar
    Helen Larsen

    Thank you so much for the definitions. It is indeed cringe producing to see these terms misused, especially by those who should know better.

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    1. McArthur, Richard P. Avatar
      McArthur, Richard P.

      Thanks for clarification. I frankly had been thinking of cousins, etc. as “collateral ancestors”.

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