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genealogy

ge·ne·al·o·gy [ jnee ólləjee ] (plural ge·ne·al·o·gies)


noun 
Definition:
 
1. study of history of families: the study of the history of families and the line of descent from their ancestors

2. family history: a pedigree or line of descent that can be traced directly from an ancestor or earlier form, especially that of a specific person or family

3. family tree: a chart or table that shows the line of descent from an ancestor or earlier form, especially that of a specific person or family

[14th century. Via French généalogie< Greek genealogia< genea "race, generation"]

ge·ne·a·log·i·cal [ jnee ə lójjik'l ] adjective
ge·ne·a·log·i·cal·ly [ jnee ə lójjikəlee ] adverb
ge·ne·al·o·gist noun
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