Ăn'ces-tor, n.

n. [O. Fr. ancestre, ancestor, anceizor, N. Fr. ancêtres, pl., Pr. ancestor, from Lat. antecessor, one who goes before, from antecedere, to go before, from ante, before, and cedere, to go.] 1. One from whom a person descends, either by the father or mother, at any distance of time; a progenitor; a forefather. 2. (Law.) One who has preceded another in the possession of real estate; one from whom an inheritance is derived;—the correlative of heir. Burrill.