< Back
ancestor
Definition
An ancestor is a person from whom you are descended. They are the people who came before you in your family tree.
Everyone has ancestors. Your ancestors are the people who made you who you are today. They passed on their genes to you, which is why you look like them and have some of their traits.
Ancestors can be traced back many generations. You can learn about your ancestors by looking at your family tree. A family tree is a diagram that shows your ancestors and their descendants.
How can the word be used?
My ancestors came to America from Ireland in the 1800s.
Different forms of the word
Noun: ancestor.
Adjective: ancestral.
Adverb: ancestrally.
Plural: ancestors.
Synonyms: forebear, forefather, progenitor, predecessor.
Antonyms: descendant.
Etymology
The word "ancestor" comes from the Latin word antecessor, which means "one who goes before." The Latin word is made up of the prefix ante ("before") and the verb cedere ("to go").
Question
What is an ancestor?