COLLATERAL, adjective 1. Being by the side, side by side, on the side, or side to side. In his bright radiance and collateral light Must I be comforted, not in his sphere. COLLATERAL pressure is pressure on the side. So we say, collateral circumstances, circumstances which accompany a principal event. 2. In genealogy, descending from the same stock or ancestor, but not one from the other; as distinguished from lineal. Lineal descendants proceed one from another in a direct line; collateral relations spring from a common ancestor, but from different branches of that common stirps or stock. Thus the children of brothers are collateral relations, having different fathers, but a common grandfather. 3. collateral security, is security for the performance of covenants or the payment of money, besides the principal security. 4. Running parallel. 5. Diffused on either side; springing from relations; as, collateral love. 6. Not direct, or immediate. If by direct or collateral hand. 7. Concurrent; as, collateral strength. COLLATERAL, noun A collateral relation or kinsman.
Source: Webster's 1828 American Dictionary ↗ · public-domain · returned verbatim, no AI