Forebear: meaning, definitions and examples
๐ด
forebear
[ หfษหหber ]
family history
A forebear is an ancestor or a family member who came before you. They are someone from your family's past, like your great-grandmother or your great-great-grandfather.
Synonyms
ancestor, forerunner, predecessor, progenitor.
Which Synonym Should You Choose?
| Word | Description / Examples |
|---|---|
| forebear |
Used in a historical or genealogical context to refer to someone from whom a person is descended, typically from many generations ago.
|
| ancestor |
Used more commonly than 'forebear' to refer to someone from whom a person is descended. It might be used in family discussions, historical contexts, or genealogical studies.
|
| predecessor |
Typically used in professional or organizational settings to refer to someone who held a position or role before the current person. It implies a direct succession.
|
| forerunner |
Used to describe someone or something that precedes the current version or incarnation in time or development, often suggesting the earlier version paved the way for the latter.
|
| progenitor |
Used in a somewhat formal or scientific context to refer to someone who is the originator or founder of a family, line, or tradition.
|
Examples of usage
- My forebears emigrated from Ireland in the 19th century.
- We should always remember and honor our forebears.
- The traditions passed down by our forebears are important to our family.
- I feel a deep connection to my forebears when I visit the old family homestead.
- She inherited her artistic talent from her forebears.
Translations
Translations of the word "forebear" in other languages:
๐ต๐น antepassado
๐ฎ๐ณ เคชเฅเคฐเฅเคตเค
๐ฉ๐ช Vorfahre
๐ฎ๐ฉ leluhur
๐บ๐ฆ ะฟัะตะดะพะบ
๐ต๐ฑ przodek
๐ฏ๐ต ็ฅๅ (ใใใ)
๐ซ๐ท ancรชtre
๐ช๐ธ antepasado
๐น๐ท ata
๐ฐ๐ท ์กฐ์ (josang)
๐ธ๐ฆ ุณูู
๐จ๐ฟ pลedek
๐ธ๐ฐ predok
๐จ๐ณ ็ฅๅ (zวxiฤn)
๐ธ๐ฎ prednik
๐ฎ๐ธ forfaรฐir
๐ฐ๐ฟ ะฐัะฐ-ะฑะฐะฑะฐ
๐ฌ๐ช แฌแแแแแแ แ
๐ฆ๐ฟ ษcdad
๐ฒ๐ฝ antepasado
Etymology
The word 'forebear' originated from Middle English, where 'fore-' means 'before' and 'boren' means 'born'. It has been used since the 14th century to refer to ancestors or family members who came before the current generation. Understanding our forebears can provide insight into our own identities and connections to the past.
See also: bear, bearable, beard, bearer, bearers, bearing, bearish, forbear, forbearance, forbearing, forebears, overbearing, unbearable, unbearably.
Word Frequency Rank
Ranking #35,641, this word is encountered relatively rarely in everyday English. It might appear in literary works or specialized texts but isn't essential for general communication.
- ...
- 35638 conjuration
- 35639 xerox
- 35640 conferment
- 35641 forebear
- 35642 dunked
- 35643 poof
- 35644 punter
- ...