noun one who is related to another on the female side.
2. cognate ·adj allied by blood; kindred by birth; specifically (law), related on the mother's side.
3. cognate ·noun one of a number of things allied in origin or nature; as, certain letters are cognates.
4. cognate ·adj of the same or a similar nature; of the same family; proceeding from the same stock or root; allied; kindred; as, a cognate language.