fil·i·a·tion 
(fĭl′ē-āshən)
(fĭl′ē-āshən)n.
1.
a. The condition or fact of being the child of a certain parent.
b. Law Judicial determination of the paternity of a nonmarital child for the purposes of compelling support.
2. A line of descent; derivation.
3.
a. The act or fact of forming a new branch, as of a society or language group.
b. The branch thus formed.
[Medieval Latin fīliātiō, fīliātiōn-, quality of being a son, legal right of a son, from Latin fīlius, son; see dhē(i)- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.]
fili·ate′ v.