ancestor | |
1. n. One from whom a person is descended, whether on the father's or mother's side, at any distance of time; a progenitor; a forefather. | |
2. n. An earlier type; a progenitor | |
This fossil animal is regarded as the ancestor of the horse. | |
3. n. (legal) One from whom an estate has descended;—the correlative of heir. | |
4. n. (figuratively) One who had the same role or function in former times. | |
5. v. To be an ancestor of. | |