families

nounkin, offspring; classification

Synonyms for families

noun kin, offspring; classification

Antonyms for families

parent

Word Origin & History

early 15c., "servants of a household," from Latin familia "family servants, domestics collectively, the servants in a household," thus also "members of a household, the estate, property; the household, including relatives and servants," from famulus "servant," of unknown origin. The Latin word rarely appears in the sense "parents with their children," for which domus (see domestic) was used.

In English, sense of "collective body of persons who form one household under one head and one domestic government, including parents, children, and servants, and as sometimes used even lodgers or boarders" [Century Dictionary] is from 1540s. From 1660s as "parents with their children, whether they dwell together or not," also in a more general sense, "persons closely related by blood, including aunts, uncles, cousins;" and in the most general sense "those who descend from a common progenitor" (1580s). Meaning "those claiming descent from a common ancestor, a house, a lineage" is early 15c. Hence, "any group of things classed as kindred based on common distinguishing characteristics" (1620s); as a scientific classification, between genus and order, from 1753.

Replaced Old English hiwscipe. As an adjective from c.1600; with the meaning "suitable for a family," by 1807. Family values first recorded 1966. Phrase in a family way "pregnant" is from 1796. Family circle is 1809; family man "man devoted to wife and children, man inclined to lead a domestic life" is 1856 (earlier it meant "thief," 1788, from family in a slang sense of "the fraternity of thieves").

The phrase is attested from 1844.

Example Sentences for families

Maidens of the first families were selected to embroider the sacred peplus.

I—I think that's all—and I'm sorry we're not—our families are not to be friends any more.

There were sixty-four men, and sixteen or seventeen families.

In a land of great wealth, families must not live in hopeless poverty.

The Father of families looks after his families—and his children too.

This is the custom of the Indians when they are about to fight,--they hide their families.

But they did not come easily, for there was an old-time feud between the two families.

There were at the time only about thirty families in the town.

Many of the rich planters had come there with their families for refuge.

At a pinch, an excellent master in English or French; a man for the bosom of families!