World Languages Lexicon
10 Language-to-English DictionariesAncestor
/ˈæn.ses.tər/Comprehensive Definitions & Senses
2 senses- 1
A person from whom one is descended, more remote than a grandparent.
"She traced her family tree back to her ancestors who arrived on the Mayflower." - 2
An early type of animal or plant from which a modern type has evolved.
"Scientists discovered the fossilized remains of an early aquatic ancestor of modern whales."
Thesaurus & Semantic Spectrum
Linguistic Origin & Historical Etymology
Derived from the Old French word 'antecessor', coming from the Latin 'antecessor', meaning 'foregoer' or 'predecessor' (from 'ante-' meaning 'before' and 'cedere' meaning 'to go'). Entered the English language during the late Middle English period, shifting in meaning from general predecessors to specifically one's biological forebears.
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10 Global Lexicons: How "Ancestor" is said worldwide
Click any language below to open its dedicated Language to English dictionary page with native script & transliteration
ancêtre
Transliteration: /ɑ̃.sɛtʁ/
"Il est fier de honorer ses ancêtres."
Vorfahre
Transliteration: /ˈfoːɐ̯ˌfaːʁə/
"Seine Vorfahren kamen im 19. Jahrhundert aus Deutschland."
antenato
Transliteration: /an.teˈna.to/
"Questo castello apparteneva ai suoi antenati."
antepasado
Transliteration: /an.te.paˈsa.ðo/
"Debemos respetar las tradiciones de nuestros antepasados."
antepassado
Transliteration: /ã.tɛ.paˈsa.du/
"Ele investigou a história de seus antepassados."
पूर्वज
Transliteration: poorvaj
"हमें अपने पूर्वजों का सम्मान करना चाहिए।"
祖先
Transliteration: zǔxiān
"中国人有祭拜祖先的传统。"
조상
Transliteration: josang
"우리는 명절에 조상님께 차례를 지냅니다."
先祖
Transliteration: senzo
"彼らは先祖のお墓参りに行った。"
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