Antonyms for families

Grammar : Noun

Spell : fam-uh-lee, fam-lee

Phonetic Transcription : ˈfæm ə li, ˈfæm li

parent

Definition of families

Origin : early 15c., "servants of a household," from Latin familia "family servants, domestics collectively, the servants in a household," thus also "members of a household, the estate, property; the household, including relatives and servants," from famulus "servant," of unknown origin. The Latin word rarely appears in the sense "parents with their children," for which domus (see domestic) was used.
In English, sense of "collective body of persons who form one household under one head and one domestic government, including parents, children, and servants, and as sometimes used even lodgers or boarders" [Century Dictionary] is from 1540s. From 1660s as "parents with their children, whether they dwell together or not," also in a more general sense, "persons closely related by blood, including aunts, uncles, cousins;" and in the most general sense "those who descend from a common progenitor" (1580s). Meaning "those claiming descent from a common ancestor, a house, a lineage" is early 15c. Hence, "any group of things classed as kindred based on common distinguishing characteristics" (1620s); as a scientific classification, between genus and order, from 1753.
I have certainly known more men destroyed by the desire to have wife and child and to keep them in comfort than I have seen destroyed by drink and harlots. [William Butler Yeats, "Autobiography"]
Replaced Old English hiwscipe. As an adjective from c.1600; with the meaning "suitable for a family," by 1807. Family values first recorded 1966. Phrase in a family way "pregnant" is from 1796. Family circle is 1809; family man "man devoted to wife and children, man inclined to lead a domestic life" is 1856 (earlier it meant "thief," 1788, from family in a slang sense of "the fraternity of thieves").
Happy family an assemblage of animals of diverse habits and propensities living amicably, or at least quietly, together in one cage. [Century Dictionary, 1902]
The phrase is attested from 1844.

noun kin, offspring; classification

Example sentences :

Maidens of the first families were selected to embroider the sacred peplus.
Extract from : « Philothea » by Lydia Maria Child

I—I think that's all—and I'm sorry we're not—our families are not to be friends any more.
Extract from : « The Spenders » by Harry Leon Wilson

There were sixty-four men, and sixteen or seventeen families.
Extract from : « The Exploring Expedition to the Rocky Mountains, Oregon and California » by Brevet Col. J.C. Fremont

In a land of great wealth, families must not live in hopeless poverty.
Extract from : « United States Presidents' Inaugural Speeches » by Various

The Father of families looks after his families—and his children too.
Extract from : « Weighed and Wanting » by George MacDonald

This is the custom of the Indians when they are about to fight,--they hide their families.
Extract from : « The Trail Book » by Mary Austin

But they did not come easily, for there was an old-time feud between the two families.
Extract from : « In the Valley » by Harold Frederic

There were at the time only about thirty families in the town.
Extract from : « The Works of Whittier, Volume VI (of VII) » by John Greenleaf Whittier

Many of the rich planters had come there with their families for refuge.
Extract from : « The Rock of Chickamauga » by Joseph A. Altsheler

At a pinch, an excellent master in English or French; a man for the bosom of families!
Extract from : « Little Dorrit » by Charles Dickens

Synonyms for families

Based on : Thesaurus.com - Gutenberg.org - Dictionary.com - Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019