AGNATIO

agnatio (ag-nay-shee-oh). [Latin] Roman law. Kinship through the male line, not necessarily

involving  blood  ties;  specif.,  an  affiliation  of  free  persons  of  either  sex  in  the  power  (patria

potestas) of the senior living male or of a male who would be in his power if he were living. • An

agnatic  relationship  could  be  created  either  by  adoption  or  by  a  blood  relationship  (cognatio)

traced  solely  through  the  male  side  of  a  family.  See  COGNATIO;  patria  po-testas  under

POTESTAS. [Blacks Law 8th]