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ascendenza

ancestry, lineage

noun ah-shen-DEN-tsah Rare

Origin: Latin ascendere (to ascend)

Also means

influence, ascendancy

Usage Note

Ascendenza covers both literal ancestry (di ascendenza nobiliare, 'of noble ancestry') and the figurative sense of influence or dominance one person or tradition has over another (avere ascendenza su qualcuno, 'to have ascendancy over someone'). It is feminine and its plural is regular: ascendenze. Do not confuse with ascensione ('ascension/ascent').

Examples

"Ha un'ascendenza italiana da parte di madre."

Natural Translation

She has Italian ancestry on her mother's side.

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