ancestress

American  

[an-ses-tris, -suh-stris] / ˈæn sɛs trɪs, -sə strɪs /

noun

1. a woman from whom a person is descended.

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Gender

What's the difference between ancestress and ancestor? See -ess.

Etymology

Origin of ancestress

First recorded in 1570–80; ancest(o)r + -ess

Example Sentences

Yang Asha is the mythical ancestress of the Miao people, an ethnic minority in China closely related to the Hmong of Southeast Asia.

From New York Times

Enshrined at “Kashikodokoro” is the goddess Amaterasu, the mythological ancestress of Japan’s emperors.

From Washington Times

Enshrined at Kashikodokoro is the goddess Amaterasu, who is the mythological ancestress of Japan’s emperors.

From Washington Times

Perhaps a tender remembrance of his ancestress Ruth, the damsel from Moab, who had been so eminent for her devotion to her mother-in-law.

From Project Gutenberg

The broken-hearted Duchess of Orleans became the ancestress of two lines of French sovereigns, and through her the kings of France founded their claims to the Duchy of Milan.

From Project Gutenberg