descendents

Stephen Lark wrote: "Misuse of the word descendant when collateral descendant is meant...".
Just what is the distinction? I have seen the term "collateral descendant" used, but always took it to mean that descent was traced from a common ancestor. Is that correct?
Also, in your example of "June Hillary"; am I correct in presuming that in the first instance the word "Lady" is (basically) a substitution for Miss or Mrs.; while in the second instance it is an actual title (somewhere there is a "Lord Hillary) and the title represents (or did originally) a participation in the governing of the realm; even if that participation was limited to providing troops at the command of the monarch. The difference has been maintained in the usage even though the requirement of participation in government has passed.
Is that a safe way to look at the distinctions?

--- In , "Douglas Eugene
Stamate" <destama@...> wrote:
>
> Stephen Lark wrote: "Misuse of the word descendant when collateral
descendant is meant...".
> Just what is the distinction? I have seen the term "collateral
descendant" used, but always took it to mean that descent was traced
from a common ancestor. Is that correct?
> Also, in your example of "June Hillary"; am I correct in presuming
that in the first instance the word "Lady" is (basically) a
substitution for Miss or Mrs.; while in the second instance it is an
actual title (somewhere there is a "Lord Hillary) and the title
represents (or did originally) a participation in the governing of
the realm; even if that participation was limited to providing troops
at the command of the monarch. The difference has been maintained in
the usage even though the requirement of participation in government
has passed.
> Is that a safe way to look at the distinctions?
>
>
>
Lady Hillary is the widow of Sir Edmund, both being commoners at
birth. A descendant is surely someone between whom a vertical
genealogical line could be drawn, not a diagonal one.

--- In , "Stephen Lark"
<stephenmlark@...> wrote:

> Lady Hillary is the widow of Sir Edmund, both being commoners at
> birth. A descendant is surely someone between whom a vertical
> genealogical line could be drawn, not a diagonal one.
>

Colateral is usually meant from a brother/sister, or possibly an
uncle/aunt.
Richard III claimed to be colateral heir of Edward IV, though he wasn't
a descendent.

--- In , "Douglas Eugene
Stamate" <destama@...> wrote:
>
> Stephen Lark wrote: "Misuse of the word descendant when collateral
descendant is meant...".
> Just what is the distinction? I have seen the term "collateral
descendant" used, but always took it to mean that descent was traced
from a common ancestor. Is that correct?
> Also, in your example of "June Hillary"; am I correct in presuming
that in the first instance the word "Lady" is (basically) a
substitution for Miss or Mrs.; while in the second instance it is an
actual title (somewhere there is a "Lord Hillary) and the title
represents (or did originally) a participation in the governing of
the realm; even if that participation was limited to providing troops
at the command of the monarch. The difference has been maintained in
the usage even though the requirement of participation in government
has passed.
> Is that a safe way to look at the distinctions?
>
>
>
Lady Hillary is the widow of Sir Edmund - both were commoners at
birth.