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tribe Definition

tribe (trīb)

noun

  1. esp. among preliterate peoples, a group of persons, families, or clans believed to be descended from a common ancestor and forming a close community under a leader, or chief
  2. a group of this kind having recognized ancestry; specif.,
    1. any of the three divisions of the ancient Romans, traditionally of Latin, Sabine, and Etruscan origin
    2. any of the later political and territorial divisions of the ancient Romans
    3. any of the phylae of ancient Greece
    4. any of the twelve divisions of the ancient Israelites
  3. any group of people having the same occupation, habits, ideas, etc.: often in a somewhat derogatory sense the tribe of drama critics
  4. a taxonomic category that is a subdivision of a subfamily of plants or animals and consists of several closely related genera
  5. a natural group of plants or animals classified together without regard for their taxonomic relations
  6. in stock breeding, the animals descended from the same female through the female line
  7. Informal a family, esp. a large one

Etymology: ME trybe < L tribus, one of the three groups into which Romans were orig. divided, tribe < tri- (see tri-) + IE *bhū- < base *bheu-, to grow, flourish > be

tribe Synonyms

tribe

n.

primitive group, ethnic group, society, phratry, clan, totemic unit, family, sib, sept, deme, horde, sorory, class, association; see also race 2.

tribe Usage Examples

Preposition: of

  • Celt: Around AD 61, the Iceni tribe of Celts led by Queen Boudica stormed London, burning it to the ground.

Converse of subject

  • inhabit: Most of Nicaragua's Caribbean lowlands area was inhabited by tribes that migrated north from what is now Colombia.

Converse of object

  • subdue: Two thirds of the Roman armies were employed in securing their border and subduing the Welsh tribes.
  • conquer: Throughout his life in Medina, he was more than willing to conquer any tribe or city that stood in his way.
  • wander: The Aztecs began as a wandering tribe whose historical origins are unknown, although they themselves recorded their mythical place of origin as Aztlan.
  • invade: Eventually the invading tribes coalesced into seven main kingdoms known as the Heptarchy.
  • neighbor: The stone circles are then made into shape by chipping out the middle, or you can just steal them from the neighboring tribes!

Adjective modifier

  • nomadic: My interest has been drawn to details of nomadic tribes from the Eurasian Steppes.
  • Germanic: That the numerous Germanic tribes practiced human sacrifice in sacred groves is beyond doubt.
  • Celtic: The unifying bond between all the Celtic tribes was their common priesthood, the Druids.
  • indigenous: She is a member of the Batwa people, an indigenous tribe that is spread across the Great Lakes region.
  • Indian: Several American Indian tribes believe they are associated with the souls of the dead.
  • barbarian: Includes the invasion of the barbarian tribes in 476 which brought about Rome's decline.

Noun used with modifier

  • Bedouin: The Projects During the expedition you will work on a local Garden Regeneration project alongside the local Bedouin tribes within a mountain area.
  • nomad: Desert Arabs, on the other hand, were the nomad tribes living in the desert who had a very crude culture.
  • pagan: His chief concern was the Quraysh and, next to them, the hostile pagan Bedouin tribes of the Hijaz.
  • hill: You will also visit a local hill tribe village in the area here.
  • desert: May desert tribes bow down before him and his enemies lick the dust!
tribe Quotes

He is a barbarian, and thinksthat the customs of his tribe and island are the laws of nature.

—Shaw, George Bernard

Abou Ben Adhem (may his tribe increase!) Awoke one night from a deep dream of peace.

—Hunt, (James Henry) Leigh

For he counteracts the powers of darkness by his electrical skin and glaring eyes. For he counteracts the Devil, who is death, by brisking about the life. For in his morning orisons he loves the sun and the sun loves him. For he is of the tribe of Tiger.

—Smart, Christopher

   How culpable was he That last night when he broke Our tribe's complicity? 'Now you're supposed to be An educated man,' I hear him say.'Puzzle me The right answer to that one.'

—Heaney, SeamusJustin

Since our concern was speech, and speech impelled us To purify the dialect of the tribe And urge the mind to aftersight and foresight.

—Eliot,T(homas) S(tearns)