Both in Latin and in archaic English the word means a grandchild, or descendant. Hence, in 1 Tim. v. 4, we read—“If a woman have children or nephews [grand-children].” Propertius has it, “Me inter seros laudābit Roma nepotes [posterity].”
⁂ Niece (Latin neptis) also means a granddaughter or female descendant. (See Nepotism.)