Ancestors

See also father; heredity; mother; origins; parents; race.

archaism

an inclination toward old-fashioned things, speech, or actions, especially those of one’s ancestors. Also archaicism. —archaist, n. —archaistic, adj.

atavism

the reappearance in the present of a characteristic belonging to a remote ancestor. —atavist, n. —atavistic, adj.

lemures

Ancient Rome. the malevolent ghosts or spirits of a family’s dead ancestors.

matriliny

descent through the female line, as in ancestry, inheritance, etc. —matrilineal, matrilinear, adj.

patriliny

relationship or descent by the male line, as in ancestry, inheritance, etc. —patrilineal, patrilinear, adj.

propositus

the person from whom a line of descent originates.