gens

American  

[jenz] / dʒɛnz /

noun

plural

gentes

1. a group of families in ancient Rome claiming descent from a common ancestor and united by a common name and common ancestral religious rites.

2. Anthropology. a group tracing common descent in the male line; clan.

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gens British  

/ dʒɛnz /

noun

1. (in ancient Rome) any of a group of aristocratic families, having a common name and claiming descent from a common ancestor in the male line

2. anthropol a group based on descent in the male line

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Other Word Forms

• subgens noun

Etymology

Origin of gens

First recorded in 1840–50, gens is from the Latin word gēns race, people. See genus, gender ¹, gender ²

Example Sentences

Byrd responded to Campion’s death musically, both in his setting of the Jesuit Henry Walpole’s “Why do I use my paper, ink, and pen?” and in the highly symbolic “Deus venerunt gentes.”

From New York Times

For me, as for many first gens, a college degree was transformative.

From New York Times

This is home to 300 travellers - a Gypsy community, described in French as gitanes or gens de voyages.

From BBC

Colleges can identify first gens on the Common Application, which asks for parents’ education history.

From New York Times

Grandfather stands in his box, backed by the rest of the family, reminding everyone here that one of the Empire's most powerful gens has seen a son graduate today.

From Literature