Article 742 of the French Civil Code

The sequence of degrees forms the line; a direct line is the sequence of degrees between persons who are descended from each other; a collateral line is the sequence of degrees between persons who are not descended from each other, but who are descended from a common author.

A distinction is made between a direct descending line and a direct ascending line.

Original in French 🇫🇷

Article 742

La suite des degrés forme la ligne ; on appelle ligne directe la suite des degrés entre personnes qui descendent l’une de l’autre ; ligne collatérale, la suite des degrés entre personnes qui ne descendent pas les unes des autres, mais qui descendent d’un auteur commun.

On distingue la ligne directe descendante et la ligne directe ascendante.