The word 'ancestors' refers to individuals from whom one is descended, specifically those from an earlier generation. These are the people in your family tree who lived before you, such as your grandparents, great-grandparents, and so on. Ancestors are significant because they contribute to your heritage and can influence cultural traditions and family history.
The word 'ancestors' comes from the Latin word "antecessor," which means "one who goes before" or "predecessor." The term "ancest" can be traced back to the Latin root "ante" meaning "before," combined with the suffix "-or," indicating a person associated with a particular action or condition.