ancestry Hear it!

ancestry Definition

an·ces·try (anses′trē; also, -səs-, -sis-)

noun pl. -·tries

  1. family descent or lineage
  2. ancestors collectively
  3. noble or distinguished descent

Etymology: ME ancestrie < OFr ancesserie < ancestre, ancestor

ancestry Synonyms

ancestry

n.

ancestry Usage Examples

Possessives

man: South Africa is rapidly solving her own paleolithic riddles, which are closely connected with the main problem of man's ancestry.

Converse of object

  • share: He is the male spirit of nature and he shares a common ancestry with Pan and Dionysus.
  • claim: Scotland is a land of five million and, worldwide, there are over fifty million people who can claim Scottish ancestry.
  • have: Olaf, himself, may well have had Danish ancestry.
  • research: Scotland's Family A portal for everyone researching Scottish ancestry.
  • know: We have included with her known ancestry an armorial portrait that readers might find fairly represents this talented actress's unusual beauty.

Adjective modifier

  • Scots: I'm fourth generation Australian, a volatile mixture of Italian, Irish and Scots ancestry.
  • noble: The usual stories of noble ancestry abound, but I've not been able to find out anything more.
  • Scottish: Welcome to my Home Page Do you have any Scottish ancestry?
  • Irish: To possess an Irish ancestry is not a qualification for writing good Irish history.
  • African: Given the names of her two parents, both held in slavery, she was of purely African ancestry.

Modifies a noun

  • visa: Ancestry visas can be granted for up to four years.
  • research: The results of ancestry research may lead to a wish to apply for a grant of Arms.
  • group: German-Americans are the largest ancestry group in most of the state, particularly in the eastern counties.
  • page: For a discussion of the development of various ampliphase transmitters see the ancestry page in the links at the bottom of this page.
  • living: Furthermore, the Irish nation cherishes its special affinity with people of Irish ancestry living abroad who share its cultural identity and heritage.

Noun used with modifier

  • Viking: He learns that his family have a dark Viking ancestry.
  • family: My family ancestry has been traced back to Roger Eastman.

Browse dictionary entries near ancestry

  1. ancestress
  2. ancestral
  3. ancestor
  4. -ance
  5. anc
  6. Anaximander
  7. Anaxagoras
  8. anatto
  9. anatropous
  10. anatomy
  1. Anchises
  2. ancho chili
  3. anchor
  4. anchor ice
  5. anchorage
  6. anchoress
  7. anchorite
  8. anchorperson
  9. anchorwoman
  10. anchovy