ancestry

Pronunciation

• IPA: /ˈænsɛstri/
• American English: AN-ses-tree

Origin

From Old French ancestre (ancestor) + -y, ultimately from Latin antecessor meaning "predecessor"

Meanings

1. One's family or ancestral descent; line of ancestors

   • "She traced her ancestry back to the 16th century."

2. The origin or background of something

   • "The ancestry of this tradition can be found in ancient rituals."

3. A group of ancestors or forebears

   • "His ancestry includes both European and Asian heritage."

Example Sentences

• The DNA test revealed her ancestry was more diverse than she expected.
• Many Americans can trace their ancestry to immigrants who came through Ellis Island.
• The building's architectural ancestry clearly shows Gothic influences.

Related Words

• Forms:

  • ancestral (adj.)
  • ancestrally (adv.)

• Synonyms:

  • lineage
  • heritage
  • descent
  • background
  • genealogy
  • roots

Memory Tricks

1. Break it down: "AN (family) + CESTRY" (history) = family history
2. Think of "ancient story" → "ancestry" (your family's ancient story)
3. Remember it as: Your ancestors' tree → ancestry (family tree)

Usage Notes

• Often used in genealogical research
• Frequently appears in discussions about heritage and family background
• Common in both scientific (genetic ancestry) and cultural contexts