In the context of Roman families, what does 'adfines' mean?

The term 'adfines' specifically refers to relatives by marriage in the context of Roman families. This includes relatives such as in-laws or relatives gained through marriage rather than by blood. The concept of 'adfines' is important in understanding Roman familial relationships, as the Romans placed significant social and legal importance on both blood relations and marital ties.

This term is distinct from other classifications of kinship in Roman culture, such as blood relatives, which are referred to in Latin as 'cognati'. The addition of in-laws to the family structure illustrates the interconnectedness of social bonds in Roman society, where alliances through marriage played a critical role in forming political and economic relationships.

In summary, 'adfines' captures vital aspects of the Roman understanding of family dynamics that extends beyond mere blood relations and reflects the importance of marital ties in social structures.