"twice removed"

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Raen  #511716  Fri, 09 May 08 05:44 PM

I overheard this at a party when someone was explaining her relation to the other. What does it mean? And would one also say "once", "thrice", or "four times" and so on..to articulate the relation? Thanks.

 

Raen

  
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Huevos  #511721  Fri, 09 May 08 05:56 PM
 It means plus 2 generations on one side of the ladder, so your granny's first cousin is your first cousin twice removed.
  
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Raen  #511723  Fri, 09 May 08 05:59 PM

Thank you Huevos, I got it.

 

Raen

  
New2grammar  #511725  Fri, 09 May 08 06:07 PM

I'm sorry to interrupt but I'm interested to know what it means too. However, I don't even understand what a first cousin is or the ladder though I can sort of guess. :(  I would appreciate if you could dumb it down for me

  
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Ant_222  #511728  Fri, 09 May 08 06:16 PM
«First cousin» means a cousin.
«Ladder» refers to the genealogy tree or a branch thereof, I suppose, and
«removed» means «being far».

EDIT: I wasn't right about "first cousin": http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cousin
  
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New2grammar  #511734  Fri, 09 May 08 06:35 PM

Thank you Ant_222. I have one more question. If a person is your first cousin once removed, what are you to him/her? first cousin once added?

  
Huevos  #511736  Fri, 09 May 08 06:41 PM
No. You are his first cousin once removed and he is your first cousin once removed. 
  
New2grammar  #511737  Fri, 09 May 08 06:44 PM

HA! That's what you mean by 'add X generation(s) to one side of the ladder. X removed means the ABSOLUTE difference is X. Is there another term that can be added to the phrase to indicate who's up/down the ladder?

 

  
Raen  #511750  Fri, 09 May 08 08:04 PM

Ok, this sounds more complicated than I thought. I thought I had it right, but I'm not sure now.

The word "removed", does it mean "something" is removed? What is removed? A generation? Are we looking at a geneological (this a word?) tree when we use this phrase? If so, do I refer to my great-great-great-great grandmother as "She is my grandmother 4 times removed"?

Cluessly yours

Raen

  
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