Meaning & Definition of word "Ancestral"

Ancestral

/ænˈsɛstrəl/

adjective:

  • 1. relating to, inherited from, or denoting an ancestor or ancestors.
    • Example: She visited her ancestral home, which had been in the family for generations.
  • 2. pertaining to or derived from a person's ancestors.
    • Example: Many families maintain traditions that reflect their ancestral heritage.
  • 3. of or relating to an ancestor.
    • Example: The ancestral lineage of the tribe can be traced back over a thousand years.

Etymology

Derived from the Latin word 'ancest(r)alis', from 'ancestor'.

Common Phrases and Expressions

ancestral lands:

Lands belonging to or inherited from ancestors.

ancestral home:

The home or estate of one's ancestors.

ancestral line:

A direct line of descent from ancestors.

Related Words

ancestor:

A person from whom one is descended.

descendant:

A person, plant, or animal that is descended from a particular ancestor.

heritage:

Property that is or may be inherited; an inheritance.

Slang Meanings of ancestral