Definition of "agnation" [ag•na•tion]

• Consanguinity by a line of males only, as distinguished from cognation (noun)

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• "The agnates, who were an important class of kinsmen, in the early Roman law were cognates connected through males either by blood relationship or by the artificial tie of agnation."
• "Those only were called who were bound in agnation to the deceased through males; hence females beyond sisters were not called."
• "This hard rule again the praetors did not leave entirely without correction, though their remedy, which consisted in the admission of such persons, since they were excluded from the rights of agnation, in the rank of cognates, was inadequate."