] ] Anielka is it possible to explain in simple words for one who isn't familiar with the English (or American) terms what a "fifth cousin twice removed" means?

] I forgot that most people don't know these terms any more!

Thanks, Anielka, I was also very confused with this once/twice/thrice removed. With this you have also explained how it is that both Lizzy and Mr. Bennet call Mr. Collins cousin.

Just as a cultural breviary, I hope Caroline would bear with me. Perhaps it's not that some do not know the terms anymore. It's we do not know it at all due to our different backgrounds. I'm aware for example that family in some countries is not as extended as it was long ago, but in others it is but the terms are not the same. So continuing with your Hastings de Feudille example:

] Removal
] "Removed" is just a generational term. Your mother's first cousin is your first cousin once removed in the ascendant

] JA's first cousin Eliza Hancock had a son Hastings de Feullide. Hastings could correctly refer to JA as his first cousin once removed in the ascendant. JA could correctly refer to Hastings as her first cousin once removed in the descendant.

So in a Spanish culture, the daughter or son of one's parent's first cousin it's not a first cousin once removed, but niece or nephew on a second degree. So not only descendants of oneself's siblings are nieces and nephews, but also the descendants of cousins. Cousins are only daughters and sons of oneself's parents' siblings (first cousins), grandaughters and grandsons of oneself's granparent's siblings (second cousins), etc.

Confusing, isn't it? :-)