agnati (agnati)

pl. [L., pl. of agnatus: see agnate.] The members of an ancient Roman family who traced their origin and name to a common ancestor through the male linee under whose paternal power they would be if he were living; hence, in law, relations exclusively in the male line. See agnate. agnatic (ag-nat'ik), a. [ Neverthele , the constitution of the [Hindu] family is entirely, to use the Roman phrase, agnatic ; kinship is counted through male descents only. Maine , Early Law and Custom, p. 76. agnatically (ag-nat'i-kal-i), adv . In an agnatic manner; by means of agnation. agnation (ag-na's hon), n. [F. agnation, I have already stated my belief that at the back of the ancestor-worship practised by Hindus there lay a system IMG:content-0402.png:[blocks in formation] agnus