family-tree theory
[ fam-uh-lee -tree, fam-lee- ]
/ ˈfæm ə li ˈtri, ˈfæm li- /
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noun Historical Linguistics.
a theory that describes language change in terms of genetically related languages developing in successive splits from a common parent language, such as Indo-European, as depicted by a family tree diagram.
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THINK YOU’VE GOT A HANDLE ON THIS US STATE NICKNAME QUIZ?
Did you ever collect all those state quarters? Put them to good use on this quiz about curious state monikers and the facts around them.
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Mississippi’s nickname comes from the magnificent trees that grow there. What is it?
Compare wave theory.
Origin of family-tree theory
First recorded in 1930–35
Words nearby family-tree theory
family skeleton, family style, family support, family therapy, family tree, family-tree theory, family values, family way, famine, famish, famished
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021