Nearby Words

ancestry

[an-ses-tree or, especially Brit., -suh-stree] Origin

an·ces·try

[an-ses-tree or, especially Brit., -suh-stree]
noun, plural -tries.
1.
family or ancestral descent; lineage.
2.
honorable or distinguished descent: famous by title and ancestry.
3.
a series of ancestors: His ancestry settled Utah.
4.
the inception or origin of a phenomenon, object, idea, or style.
5.
the history or developmental process of a phenomenon, object, idea, or style.

Origin:
1300–50; Middle English, equivalent to ancestre ancestor + -y3; replacing Middle English aunce(s)trie < Anglo-French


1. pedigree, genealogy, stock. 3. family, line.

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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
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Ancestry is always a great word to know.
So is callithumpian. Does it mean:
a stew of meat, vegetables, potatoes, etc.
a children's mummer's parade, as on the Fourth of July, with prizes for the best costumes.
Collins
World English Dictionary
ancestry (ˈænsɛstrɪ)
 
n , pl -tries
1.  lineage or descent, esp when ancient, noble, or distinguished
2.  ancestors collectively

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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Etymonline
Word Origin & History

ancestry
early 14c., from O.Fr. ancesserie "ancestry, ancestors, forefathers," from ancestre (see ancestor), spelling modified by influence of ancestor.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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