ancestress
/'ænsistris/
Definition
Noun: A female ancestor; a woman from whom one is directly descended, especially one more remote than a grandparent.
Usage
The word "ancestress" is used to specify the female gender of an ancestor. It is a formal or literary term, often found in historical, genealogical, or anthropological contexts to highlight the maternal line or female lineage.
Examples
- Historians traced the royal lineage back to a powerful ancestress who ruled in the 12th century.
- According to family legend, our founding ancestress arrived on this continent centuries ago.
- In many cultures, stories are told of a great ancestress from whom the entire tribe is descended.
Advanced Usage
- The term can be used metaphorically to refer to a female predecessor or originator in a field, movement, or tradition.
- She is considered the intellectual ancestress of modern feminist theory.
Variants and Related Words
- Ancestor (noun): A person, typically one more remote than a grandparent, from whom one is descended. This is the gender-neutral term.
- Foremother (noun): A synonym for ancestress, often used with a sense of respect or pioneering spirit.
- Progenitress (noun): A formal and less common synonym for a female progenitor or ancestress.
Synonyms
- Foremother
- Progenitress
- Matriarch (when referring to a female head of a family or tribe)
Antonyms
- Descendant
- Heiress (a female who inherits, not an ancestor)
Noun
-
a woman ancestor
Khám phá thêm
Các từ liên quan
Từ có nhắc đến "ancestress"
