C1 adjective Neutre

ancestor

/ˈænsestə(r)/

A person from whom one is descended, typically one more remote than a grandparent. It can also refer to an earlier form or type of a species or a machine from which others have evolved or developed.

Exemples

3 sur 5
1

My ancestors migrated from Ireland to the United States during the 19th century.

My forebears moved from Ireland to America in the 1800s.

2

The plaintiff must provide evidence of biological lineage connecting them to their ancestors.

The person suing must show a blood connection to their deceased relatives.

3

I bet our ancestors would be completely confused by how much time we spend staring at screens.

I imagine our relatives from the past would find our use of technology very strange.

Famille de mots

Nom
ancestor
Adverbe
ancestrally
Adjectif
ancestral
Apparenté
ancestry
💡

Astuce mémo

Focus on the prefix 'An-', which is similar to 'Ancient' or 'Ante-'. It helps you remember that ancestors are the people who came 'before' you.

Quiz rapide

The DNA results showed that her ______ lived in Scandinavia over five hundred years ago.

Correct !

La bonne réponse est : ancestors

Exemples

1

My ancestors migrated from Ireland to the United States during the 19th century.

everyday

My forebears moved from Ireland to America in the 1800s.

2

The plaintiff must provide evidence of biological lineage connecting them to their ancestors.

formal

The person suing must show a blood connection to their deceased relatives.

3

I bet our ancestors would be completely confused by how much time we spend staring at screens.

informal

I imagine our relatives from the past would find our use of technology very strange.

4

Genetic testing indicates that these two distinct species share a common ancestor.

academic

DNA evidence shows that these two different types of animals come from the same original group.

5

This early prototype of the computer is the direct ancestor of the modern tablet.

business

This first version of the computer led directly to the development of today's tablets.

Famille de mots

Nom
ancestor
Adverbe
ancestrally
Adjectif
ancestral
Apparenté
ancestry

Collocations courantes

common ancestor a shared biological relative from the past
direct ancestor a relative in a straight line of descent
distant ancestor a relative from a very long time ago
trace one's ancestors to find information about one's family history
ancestor worship the practice of venerating deceased family members

Phrases Courantes

common ancestor

the shared origin of different groups

ancestor worship

religious practice of honoring the dead

spiritual ancestor

a person who paved the way for a current philosophy or movement

Souvent confondu avec

ancestor vs descendant

An ancestor is someone you come from (past), whereas a descendant is someone who comes from you (future).

ancestor vs predecessor

A predecessor refers to someone who held a job or position before you; an ancestor refers specifically to family or biological lineage.

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Notes d'usage

While typically a noun, 'ancestor' can be used as an attributive noun (acting like an adjective) in scientific phrases like 'ancestor species'. For most descriptive needs, use the adjective 'ancestral'.

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Erreurs courantes

Learners often confuse 'ancestor' with 'predecessor' in work contexts. Remember that you don't have a 'work ancestor' unless your grandfather actually held your specific job.

💡

Astuce mémo

Focus on the prefix 'An-', which is similar to 'Ancient' or 'Ante-'. It helps you remember that ancestors are the people who came 'before' you.

📖

Origine du mot

Derived from the Old French 'ancestre', which comes from the Latin 'antecessor', meaning 'one who goes before'.

Modèles grammaticaux

Countable noun Often used in the plural form (ancestors) Can be used as a noun-adjunct to modify another noun
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Contexte culturel

In many cultures, such as those in East Asia and West Africa, ancestors are believed to maintain a spiritual connection with the living family and are honored with altars or rituals.

Quiz rapide

The DNA results showed that her ______ lived in Scandinavia over five hundred years ago.

Correct !

La bonne réponse est : ancestors

Mots lis

pale

A1

Describes something that has very little color or is much lighter than usual. It is often used to describe a person's face when they are ill or a color that is mixed with a lot of white.

lung

A1

The lungs are two organs inside your chest that you use to breathe. They bring oxygen into your body and remove carbon dioxide when you breathe out.

tropical

A1

Relating to the hot regions of the Earth near the equator. It describes weather that is very warm and wet, or plants and animals that come from these areas.

trader

A1

A trader is a person whose job is to buy and sell goods, stocks, or other items for profit. They can work in a small local market or on large international financial exchanges.

indoor

A1

Describes something that is located, happens, or is used inside a building rather than outside. It is an adjective used before a noun to talk about activities or objects protected from the weather.

threshold

A1

A threshold is the physical area at the bottom of a doorway that you step over to enter a room or building. It also refers to the level or point at which something starts to happen or changes.

tribute

A1

A tribute is something that you say, do, or give to show your respect and admiration for someone. It is often a public act used to honor a person's life, work, or memory.

elder

A1

Used to describe a person who is older than another, especially within a family. It is also used to refer to people who have a high status or more experience because of their age.

russian

A1

Relating to Russia, its people, its language, or its culture. It describes things that come from or are connected to the largest country in the world.

southeastern

A1

Located in or coming from the direction between south and east. It describes a place, a region, or a wind that is in the corner between the bottom and the right on a map.

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