Definition
Agnate refers to a relative related through the male line. Imagine tracing your family tree solely through your father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and so on. These are your agnates. It signifies a connection of kinship established through male descent. 👨👩👧👦 Unlike cognates (relatives through any line), agnates are specifically linked through the paternal lineage. Therefore, your father's brother is an agnate. Agnatic relationships have been historically significant in inheritance and social structures.