cynn

Etymology

From Proto-Germanic *kunją, from Proto-Indo-European *ǵenh₁- (“to produce”). Cognate with Old Frisian kin, Old Saxon kunni, cunni, Dutch kunne, Old High German kunni, Old Norse kyn (Danish køn, Swedish kön), Gothic 𐌺𐌿𐌽𐌹 (kuni). The Indo-European root is also the source of Ancient Greek γένος (génos), Latin genus.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /kynn/

Noun

cynn n (nominative plural cynn)

1. kin, kind, tribe, people
2. (grammar) gender

   Ealdenglisċe naman wǣron þrēora cynna, þæt sind werlīċ and wīflīċ and nāðer.

   Old English nouns had three genders: masculine, feminine, and neuter.