ancestor
Definition from Wiktionary, the free dictionary
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[edit] English
[edit] Alternative forms
- ancestour (obsolete)
- auncestor (obsolete)
- auncestour (obsolete)
[edit] Etymology
Middle English ancestre, auncestre, ancessour; the first forms from Old French ancestre (modern French ancêtre), from the Latin nominative antecessor one who goes before; the last form from Old French ancessor, from Latin accusative antecessorem, from antecedo (“to go before”); ante (“before”) + cedo (“to go”). See cede, and compare with antecessor.
[edit] Pronunciation
[edit] Noun
ancestor (plural ancestors)
- One from whom a person is descended, whether on the father's or mother's side, at any distance of time; a progenitor; a forefather.
- An earlier type; a progenitor
- This fossil animal is regarded as the ancestor of the horse.
- (law) One from whom an estate has descended;—the correlative of heir.
- (figuratively) One who had the same role or function in former times.
- 2011 October 1, Saj Chowdhury, “Wolverhampton 1 - 2 Newcastle”, BBC Sport:
- The Magpies are unbeaten and enjoying their best run since 1994, although few would have thought the class of 2011 would come close to emulating their ancestors.
- 2011 October 1, Saj Chowdhury, “Wolverhampton 1 - 2 Newcastle”, BBC Sport:
[edit] Usage notes
- There is a rare feminine form ancestress
[edit] Derived terms
[edit] Translations
one from whom a person is descended
an earlier type
