ancestress
|an-ces-tress|
C1
🇺🇸
/ˈænˌsɛstrɪs/
🇬🇧
/ˈæn.ses.trɪs/
female ancestor
Etymology
Etymology Information
'ancestress' originates from English, specifically the word 'ancestor' with the feminine suffix '-ess', where 'ancestor' meant 'forebear' and '-ess' indicated female gender.
Historical Evolution
'ancestress' was formed in English by adding the feminine suffix '-ess' to 'ancestor', and eventually became the modern English word 'ancestress'.
Meaning Changes
Initially, it meant 'female ancestor', and this meaning has remained unchanged in modern usage.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a female ancestor; a woman from whom one is descended.
She traced her family line back to an ancestress who lived in the 18th century.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/08/01 10:36