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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