n. [ OE. ancestre, auncestre, also ancessour; the first forms fr. OF. ancestre, F. ancêtre, fr. the L. nom. antessor one who goes before; the last form fr. OF. ancessor, fr. L. acc. antecessorem, fr. antecedere to go before; ante before + cedere to go. See Cede, and cf. Antecessor. ]
a. Ancestral. Grote. [ 1913 Webster ]
adv. With regard to ancestors. [ 1913 Webster ]
a. Of, pertaining to, derived from, or possessed by, an ancestor or ancestors;
n. A female ancestor. [ 1913 Webster ]
n. [ Cf. OF. ancesserie. See Ancestor. ]
Title and ancestry render a good man more illustrious, but an ill one more contemptible. Addison. [ 1913 Webster ]