a. [f. L. congener (see CONGENER) + -OUS.]
1. Of the same kind (as another), akin in nature or character. Const. with, also to († unto).
1646. Sir T. Browne, Pseud. Ep., III. xxi. 162. Unto its conservation there is required … a food congenerous unto the principles of its nature.
1671. Grew, Anat. Pl., I. i. § 30. Some moisture, partly dissimilar, and partly congenerous.
1733. Arbuthnot, Ess. Air (J.). Apoplexies, and other congenerous diseases.
1853. G. Johnston, Nat. Hist. E. Bord., I. 209. Another historian, of congenerous taste and learning.
1875. Sears, Serm. & Songs, 251. She will demand nothing … which is not congenerous with her nature.
1885. R. L. Stevenson, in Contemp. Rev., April, 557. You … find it pass into congenerous sounds, one liquid or labial melting away into another.
b. Of the same genus or (more loosely) family; congeneric.
1768. Pennant, Zool., I. 61. In this place [s.v. Fox] we should introduce the wolf, a congenerous animal.
1769. G. White, Selborne, xxvi. (1789), 73. Fieldfares, which are so congenerous to thrushes and blackbirds.
1832. Lyell, Princ. Geol., II. 114. [In] Europe, Asia, and Africa [are] … bees congenerous with our common hive-bee; while in America, this genus is nowhere indigenous.
1842. Proc. Berw. Nat. Club, II. 28. Analogous structures in congenerous species.
c. Of peoples: Allied in race or origin.
1790. Pennant, Lond. (1813), 3. Willing to receive any instructions offered by a congenerous people.
1807. G. Chalmers, Caledonia, I. III. x. 458. He conjectured, that the Caledonians, and Germans, must have been congenerous people.
1814. Jamieson, Hermes Scyth., 44. The Carians were accounted congenerous with the Mysi.
† 2. Homogeneous. Obs. rare–1.
1683. Salmon, Doron Med., II. 392. United in one similar, or simple and congenerous substance or body.
† 3. Cognate in character; congenial. Obs.
1677. Howe, Wks., 1724, II. 531. God doth … so far excite and actuate those Powers, as that they are apt and habile for any congenerous action to which they have a natural Designation.
1687. J. Reynolds, Death’s Vis., v. That Shou’d … move Tow’rds th’Unconfin’d, Congenerous Realms above.
4. Innate, congenital. rare–1.
1813. W. Taylor, in Monthly Rev., LXXII. 425. She ought to have considered Gothic architecture, like romantic poetry and the Christian religion, as native or congenerous tastes of the modern European.
5. Phys. Congenerous muscles: muscles that concur in the same action.
1721. in Bailey.
1830. R. Knox, Béclard’s Anat., 302. By the law of the association of congenerous muscles.
Hence Congenerousness, the quality of being of the same nature, affinity of nature, kinship.
1677. H. Hallywell, Meth. Saving Souls, 84. Perswasive arguments, whose force and strength must lye in their congenerousness and suitableness with the ancient Idea’s and Inscriptions of truth upon our souls.
