family

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   A group of people who are related, especially parents and their children.

   Our family lives in town.

2. 2
   noun

   All the people related to you, including those long ago.

   Our family has lived in Massachusetts for generations.

3. 3
   noun

   A group of related animals or plants in scientific classification.

   Lions and tigers belong to the cat family.

Appears in

Simplified etymology

Family ultimately derives from Latin famulus, “household servant.” In late Middle English it first referred collectively to a household’s servants, then to everyone living in one house, including parents, children, and servants. Its present sense became established from the later 15th century.

From Late Middle English famylye, from Latin familia (“a household”). Displaced native Old English hīred. Doublet of familia.

Topics

External links

• Google Images
• Cambridge Dictionary
• Wiktionary