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

Descendant of a Revolutionary War heroine who once detained General Howe for four days�whether from passion or patriotism�Minerva gets involved with a foundation that wants to honor her ancestress by "restoring" the town.

From Time Magazine Archive

The spider in Little Miss Muffitt and the lupine ancestress in Little Red Riding Hood breed fear-complexes.

From Time Magazine Archive

A polished biography of an un cut gem of a woman, Sir Winston's ancestress, Sarah Churchill, who helped make the 18th century glitter.

From Time Magazine Archive

A jewel box of a biography of the incomparable Sarah Churchill, wife to the hero of Blenheim, ancestress of Sir Winston.

From Time Magazine Archive

I had an ancestress with a long gray tail and eyes as beady as mine, and her name was Katinka Van Tassel.

From "Secrets at Sea" by Richard Peck