ancestor

• Personne, généralement de plusieurs générations antérieures, dont descend une lignée ou une famille.

A noun referring to a person, typically from several generations earlier, from whom one is descended.

1. Person from whom one is descendedA2formal

   A person, typically one more remote than a grandparent, from whom one is descended.

   ancêtre (ascendant)

   • My ancestors came from Ireland.
   • She researched her ancestors in the family tree.
   • The museum displays artifacts from ancient ancestors.

   Synonymesantecedentforebearforefatherpredecessorprogenitor

   Antonymesdescendant

2. Early form of somethingB2formalscientific

   An early type of plant or animal from which a later, usually dissimilar, type has evolved.

   Forme ancestrale

   • The dinosaur is considered an ancestor of modern birds.
   • This plant is an ancestor of the modern tomato.
   • Fossils reveal ancestors of today's mammals.

   Synonymesantecedentforebearforerunnerprecursorprogenitorprototype

   Antonymesdescendant