ancestral

[ an-ses-truhl ]

adjective

1. pertaining to ancestors; descending or claimed from ancestors:

   an ancestral home.

2. serving as a forerunner, prototype, or inspiration.

ancestral

/ ænˈsɛstrəl /

adjective

1. of, inherited from, or derived from ancestors

   his ancestral home

noun

1. logic a relation that holds between x and y if there is a chain of instances of a given relation leading from x to y. Thus the ancestral of parent of is ancestor of, since x is the ancestor of y if and only if x is a parent of…a parent of…a parent of y

Derived Forms

• anˈcestrally, adverb

Other Words From

• an·cestral·ly adverb
• nonan·cestral adjective
• nonan·cestral·ly adverb
• pseudo·an·cestral adjective
• pseudo·an·cestral·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of ancestral¹

1425–75; late Middle English aunce ( s ) trel < Middle French, equivalent to ancestre ancestor + -el -al ¹

Example Sentences

Recent research found a geographical ancestral link in Orkney and Shetland by scientists in Edinburgh and Aberdeen universities.

From BBC

Mr Damaso is from the Larrakia Aboriginal people, the ancestral owners of the region of Darwin, and he also has connections to the Yanuwa and Malak Malak people.

From BBC

Her organisation works with communities and schools on their ancestral lands, learning about foods and medicines from the bush and about the Aboriginal 'kinship’ system - how people fit in with their community and family.

From BBC

Donald Trump still has three cousins on Lewis, including two who live in the ancestral home, which has been rebuilt since Mary Anne MacLeod's time.

From BBC

It is estimated he spent 97 seconds in the ancestral home during his whistle-stop tour.

From BBC

Related Words

• familial
• tribal