Forms: 3–4 cunnes-, kun(n)es- (3–5 kenes-, 5 kennes-, -ys-), 3–5 kinnes(s-, 3–6 kynnes-, 4–5 kines-, 4–7 kinse-, 5–6 kyns(e-, 6– kinsman. [Early ME. f. cunnes, kinnes, gen. of KIN + MAN.] A man of one’s own kin; a relative by blood (or, loosely, by marriage). (Now chiefly literary.)
[c. 1052. O. E. Chron. (MS. C.), an. 1052. Hit wæs heom mæst eallon lað þat hiʓ sceoldon f[e]ohtan wið heora aʓenes cynnes mannum.]
c. 1200. Vices & Virtues, 75. Ne ðine breðren … ne ðine kenesmen, ne ðine neihibures.
c. 1200. Ormin, 7613. Cristess kinness menn þær brohhtenn Crist to kirrke.
c. 1290. S. Eng. Leg., I. 456/3. His freond and is cunnes-men þe gretteste maystres were.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 6434. Ietro … was moyses kynnes-man [Gött. kinesman].
c. 1400. trans. Secreta Secret., Gov. Lordsh., 106. My kennysmen and ancestres yn þe self lawe dwellyd.
c. 1477. Caxton, Jason, 50. That my kinnesmen and frendes be assembled.
1555. Eden, Decades, 2. No … kynseman for kynseman … coulde do more.
1613. Purchas, Pilgrimage (1614), 273. Hali, Mahomets nearest kinsman and sonne in lawe.
1768. Sterne, Sent. Journ. (1778), II. 31. (Captive) Nor had the voice of friend or kinsman breathed through his lattice.
1855. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., xv. III. 605. It was no pleasant task to accuse the Queen’s kinsman in the Queen’s presence.
1865. Kingsley, Herew., i. He is your mother’s kinsman.
fig. 1590. Shaks., Com. Err., V. i. 80. Moodie and dull melancholly, Kinsman to grim and comfortlesse despaire.
1635. Swan, Spec. M., v. § 2 (1643), 148. Dew … being a near kinsman to rain.
Hence Kinsmanly a., appropriate to or characteristic of a kinsman.
1838. J. Martin, Rem. & Serm., vii. 168. True kinsmanly affection to our brethren in Christ.
1885. Spectator, 31 Jan., 154/2. The claims of New England upon the kinsmanly interest and affection of all travellers from the mother-country.
