affinal
/əˈfʌɪn(ə)l
/adjective Anthropology
Concerning or having a family relationship by marriage.Most cases illustrated here concern fine-tuning of the affinal category in such a way that it is possible to establish the necessary distinctions among classificatory in-laws, potential in-laws and actual in-laws....
- Buffaloes, preferably full-grown bulls, are involved in funerals in two ways: some are contributed by consanguineal relatives and others are lent by affinal kin or even friends.
- Consanguineal relatives are considered more important than are affinal relatives.
Origin
Mid 19th century: from Latin affinis 'related' (see affinity) + -al.