15. Ancestors

See also 153. FATHER ; 204. HEREDITY ; 281. MOTHER ; 304. ORIGINS ; 307. PARENTS ; 341. RACE .

archaism

an inclination toward old-fashioned things, speech, or actions, especially those of one’s ancestors. Also archaicism . — archaist, n. — archaistic, adj .

atavism

the reappearance in the present of a characteristic belonging to a remote ancestor. — atavist, n . — atavistic, adj .

lemures

Ancient Rome . the malevolent ghosts or spirits of a family’s dead ancestors.

matriliny

descent through the female line, as in ancestry, inheritance, etc. — matrilineal, matrilinear , adj .

patriliny

relationship or descent by the male line, as in ancestry, inheritance, etc. — patrilineal, patrilinear, adj .

propositus

the person from whom a line of descent originates.