Avunculus
/əˈvʊŋ.kjʊ.ləs/noun
A Latin word meaning “maternal uncle,” used in English in scholarly or historical contexts.
Did you know?Latin distinguished a maternal uncle with avunculus, and that exact family term later gave rise to the English adjective avuncular, meaning kindly and uncle-like.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*h₂ewh₂-
“Root associated with maternal kinship terms, especially the mother’s brother in some Indo-European branches.”
Latin
Latin
avunculus
“Maternal uncle; also used affectionately or in familial address.”
Late Latin
Latin
avuncularis
“Of or relating to an uncle.”
Old French
Old French
avunculaire
“Uncle-like; pertaining to an uncle.”
14th–16th Century
English
avuncular
“Pertaining to an uncle; later, kindly and benevolent in the manner stereotypically associated with an uncle.”