family
UK[ˈfæməli]US[ˈfæməli]
n
A group of people who are related to each other, especially parents and their children.
n
All the people descended from a common ancestor.
n
A group of related things.
Etymology
The word 'family' entered English in the late 14th century from the Latin 'familia', which referred to a household establishment, including servants and slaves under the authority of a 'paterfamilias' (the male head). This Latin term itself derived from 'famulus', meaning 'servant' or 'slave'. The semantic journey from 'servants of a household' to the modern concept of a kin-based domestic unit is a significant shift. Over centuries, the meaning narrowed and softened, focusing less on the hierarchical structure of the household and more on the bonds of kinship, affection, and shared residence, reflecting evolving social structures.
Analysis
The word 'family' is a simplex word borrowed as a whole from Latin. It is not productively segmented into smaller, meaningful morphemes in modern English spelling.
Examples
She comes from a large, close-knit family.
The tiger is a member of the cat family.
We consider our closest friends to be like family.