lineal
AdjectiveUS[lin-ee-uhl]/ˈlɪniəl/3 syllables
Synonyms:
direct
Open English WordNet
Adjective (2)
- in a straight unbroken line of descent from parent to child“lineal ancestors”“lineal heirs”“a direct descendant of the king”“direct heredity”Synonyms: directSimilar unilateral, patrilineal, matrilinealSee also related
- arranged in a lineOpposite planar, cubicSimilar linear, one-dimensional
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Webster's Dictionary (1913)
Lin′e·al (lĭn′ē-al), adjective
Origin: L. linealis belonging to a line, fr. linea line: cf. F. linéal. See 3d Line.
1. Descending in a direct line from an ancestor; hereditary; derived from ancestors; — opposed to collateral; as, a lineal descent or a lineal descendant.
The prime and ancient right of lineal succession.— John Locke
2. Inheriting by direct descent; having the right by direct descent to succeed (to).
For only you are lineal to the throne.— John Dryden
3. Composed of lines; delineated; as, lineal designs.
4. In the direction of a line; of or pertaining to a line; measured on, or ascertained by, a line; linear; as, lineal magnitude.
Lineal measure, the measure of length; — usually written linear measure.
Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913), from GCIDE 0.54