| 释义 |
ancestry|ˈænsɪstrɪ|
Forms: 4 ancestrie, -istry, aunceterye, -cetre, -setre, 4–6 awncestry(e, auncetrie, -etry(e, 4–7 -estrie, 5–6 auncestrye, ancestrye, 6 auncetrye, -itrie, 6–7 -estry, 5– ancestry.
[An Eng. modification (due to the survival of ancestre and not ancessour, as the Eng. form) of OFr. anceserie, ancesserie, f. ancesor ancestor n. + -ie (see -y), as if:—late L. *antecēssorī-a.]
1. The relation or condition of ancestors; progenitorship; ancestral lineage or descent. Hence, distinguished or ancient descent.
1330R. Brunne Chron. 14 What þorgh lowe of lond, & olde auncestrie, Wan he þe regne of Westsex. c1386Chaucer Reeve's T. 62 His purpos was for to bistowe hire hye In to som worthy blood of Auncetrye [v.r. -trie, -terye, -cestrie]. c1400Destr. Troy xv. 6319 Þe proud kyng, was full pure ryche, Of aunsetre old. c1425Wyntoun Cron. ix. xxvii. 45 Mychty lordis of ancestry. 1513Bradshaw St. Werburge (1848) 10 Blessed Saynt Werburge..Descended by auncetry and title famous. 1591Shakes. Two Gent. v. iv. 139 Now, by the honor of my Ancestry. 1697Dryden æneid xi. 82 A Son, whose Death disgraced his Ancestry. a1719Addison (J.) Title and ancestry render a good man more illustrious. 1836Hor. Smith Tin Trum. I. 28 They who on length of ancestry enlarge.
2. collect. The persons who stand to us in the above relation; the line or body of ancestors. (Cf. the similar passage from abst. to concrete in tenantry, chivalry, gentry, majesty, knighthood, peerage.)
1330R. Brunne Chron. 81 His auncestrie whilom when left it þorgh folis. 1483Caxton Gold. Leg. 423/3 Thys place is belongyng to me by myn owne herytage comyng fro myn auncestrye. 1514Barclay Cyt. & Uplondyshm. 27 Theyr patrymony, Whiche was to them lefte by theyr olde auncestry. c1625R. James in Shaks. Cent. Praise 164 You are descended of Noble Auncestrie. 1780Cowper Table Talk 372 Our ancestry, a gallant Christian race. 1825Bro. Jonathan III. 419 A powerful nation, whose large ancestry had peopled..all that part of the earth. |