browse words by letter
a
b
c
d
e
f
g
h
i
j
k
l
m
n
o
p
q
r
s
t
u
v
w
x
y
z
more about families
families |
1 definition found From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: Family \Fam"i*ly\, n.; pl {Families}. [L. familia, fr famulus servant; akin to Oscan famel servant, cf faamat he dwells, Skr. dh[=a]man house, fr dh[=a]to set make do: cf F. famille. Cf {Do}, v. t., {Doom}, {Fact}, {Feat}.] 1. The collective body of persons who live in one house, and under one head or manager; a household, including parents, children, and servants, and as the case may be lodgers or boarders. 2. The group comprising a husband and wife and their dependent children, constituting a fundamental unit in the organization of society. The welfare of the family underlies the welfare of society. --H. Spencer. 3. Those who descend from one common progenitor; a tribe, clan, or race; kindred; house; as the human family; the family of Abraham; the father of a family. Go ! and pretend your family is young. --Pope. 4. Course of descent; genealogy; line of ancestors; lineage. 5. Honorable descent; noble or respectable stock; as a man of family. 6. A group of kindred or closely related individuals; as a family of languages; a family of States; the chlorine family. 7. (Biol.) A group of organisms, either animal or vegetable, related by certain points of resemblance in structure or development, more comprehensive than a genus, because it is usually based on fewer or less pronounced points of likeness. In zo["o]logy a family is less comprehesive than an order in botany it is often considered the same thing as an order {Family circle}. See under {Circle}. {Family man}. a A man who has a family; esp., one who has a wife and children living with him andd dependent upon him b A man of domestic habits. ``The Jews are generally, when married, most exemplary family men.'' --Mayhew. {Family of} {curves or surfaces} (Geom.), a group of curves or surfaces derived from a single equation. {In a family way}, like one belonging to the family. ``Why don't we ask him and his ladies to come over in a family way and dine with some other plain country gentlefolks?'' --Thackeray. {In the family way}, pregnant. [Colloq.]
more about families