gens

noun

ˈjenz

ˈgen(t)s

plural gentes ˈjen-ˌtēz How to pronounce gens (audio)

ˈgen-ˌtās

: a Roman clan embracing the families of the same stock in the male line with the members having a common name and worshipping a common ancestor

: clan

especially : a patrilineal clan

: a distinguishable group of related organisms

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Latin gent-, gens literally, "group of the same ancestry, people, nation," going back to Indo-European *ǵenh₁-ti- "offspring," derivative of *ǵenh₁- "engender, be born" — more at kin entry 1

Note: The loss of the reflex of the laryngeal in gent-, gens, as opposed to genitor "father, creator" (see progenitor) presumably suggests that the word is a relatively recent formation, as observed already by A. Ernout and A. Meillet (Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue latine, 4. édition, 1979). Compare Latin nātiō "birth, race, nationality" (see nation), from *ǵn̥h₁-ti-, an alternative zero-grade derivative with the suffix *-ti-.

First Known Use

1846, in the meaning defined at sense 1

单词	gens
释义	gens noun ˈjenz ˈgen(t)s plural gentes ˈjen-ˌtēz ˈgen-ˌtās 1 : a Roman clan embracing the families of the same stock in the male line with the members having a common name and worshipping a common ancestor 2 : clan especially : a patrilineal clan 3 : a distinguishable group of related organisms Example Sentences Recent Examples on the Web Next-gens tend to integrate philanthropy into all aspects of their lives. Shelley Hoss, Forbes, 27 Dec. 2021 Word History Etymology borrowed from Latin gent-, gens literally, "group of the same ancestry, people, nation," going back to Indo-European ǵenh₁-ti- "offspring," derivative of ǵenh₁- "engender, be born" — more at kin entry 1 Note: The loss of the reflex of the laryngeal in gent-, gens, as opposed to genitor "father, creator" (see progenitor) presumably suggests that the word is a relatively recent formation, as observed already by A. Ernout and A. Meillet (Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue latine, 4. édition, 1979). Compare Latin nātiō "birth, race, nationality" (see nation), from ǵn̥h₁-ti-, an alternative zero-grade derivative with the suffix -ti-. First Known Use 1846, in the meaning defined at sense 1
随便看	and and a half and all and anyway and Bob's your uncle and change and counting and everything and how and no mistake and not before time and not before time too and otherwise and so forth and so on and stuff and such and suchlike and that and the like and then some and under and/or anda anda-assu

gens

noun

Example Sentences

Word History