in a more general sense, kinship may refer to a similarity or affinity between entities on the basis of some or all of their characteristics that are under focus. this may be due to a shared ontological origin, a shared historical or cultural connection, or some other perceived shared features that connect the two entities. for example, a person studying the ontological roots of human languages (etymology) might ask whether there is kinship between the english word "seven" and the german word "sieben". it can be used in a more diffuse sense as in, for example, the news headline "madonna feels kinship with vilified wallis simpson", to imply a felt similarity or empathy between two or more entities.