ancestor

One from whom a person is descended, whether on the father's or mother's side, at any distance of time; a progenitor; a forefather; a forebear.

How to use

The term 'ancestor' is typically used in formal or academic contexts, such as genealogy, history, or anthropology. A common grammatical nuance to note is that the plural form 'ancestors' is often used in a collective sense, whereas the singular 'ancestor' refers to a specific individual. For example, 'The museum exhibit honored the ancestors of the indigenous people.'