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Simple English definitions for legal terms
agnatus
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A quick definition of agnatus:
Agnatus: A person who is related through the male line in Roman law. This means that they are part of the same family as their father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and so on. Brothers, sisters, uncles, aunts, nephews, nieces, and other relatives who are related through males are also considered agnates. Cognates are people who can trace their bloodline to a single ancestor or ancestress, while agnates are cognates who trace their connection only through males. In Roman law, the agnatic family was the civil issue of the state.
A more thorough explanation:
Definition: Agnatus is a term used in Roman law to describe a person who is related through the male line. This means that they are connected to their family through their father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and so on.
For example, if a man's father has a brother, that uncle is the man's agnatus. If the man's grandfather has a sister, her children are not his agnati because they are not related through the male line.
In Roman law, agnati were all individuals who were subject to the same patria potestas, or the power of the father. This included brothers, sisters, uncles, aunts, nephews, nieces, and other relatives who were not part of another family. The agnatic family was the civil issue of the state.