ancestor
Translation
ancestor, forebear, predecessor
Examples
My ancestors came from Ireland.
My ancestors came from Ireland.
This machine is the ancestor of the modern computer.
This machine is the ancestor of the modern computer.
Grammar Patterns
((sb.'s)) ancestor a person in (sb.'s) family from the past My great-grandfather is my oldest known ancestor.
the ancestor of ((sth.)) an early type of (sth.) that developed into what it is now The abacus is an ancestor of the modern calculator.
Similar Words
Synonyms: forefather, predecessor; Antonyms: descendant
Etymology
From Old French `ancestre`, from Latin `antecessor` (`ante-` 'before' + `cedere` 'to go'). Someone who 'goes before'.
Memory Tips
Think of `ante-` as 'before'. An ancestor is someone in your family who came before you.