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A female progenitor.

An ancestor or progenitor; and hence, an early race; a stem. They were the roots out of which sprang two distinct people. Locke.

A clan, tribe, or family, proceeding from a common progenitor; -- used especially of the ancient clans in Ireland. The chief, struck by the illustration, asked at once to be baptized, and all his sept followed his example. S. Lover.

, wearing a hat with such a crown. This grave, beared, sable-cloaked, and steeple-crowned progenitor. Hawthorne.

The stock of a family; a race or generation of progenitors. "All that are of noble stem." Milton. While I do pray, learn here thy stem And true descent. Herbert.

The original progenitor; also, the race or line of a family; the progenitor of a family and his direct descendants; lineage; family. And stand betwixt them made, when, severally, All told their stock. Chapman. Thy mother was no goddess, nor thy stock From Dardanus. Denham.

A family, race, or series of generations, descending from the same progenitor, and kept distinct, as in the case of the twelve tribes of Israel, descended from the twelve sons of Jacob. "The Lion of the tribe of Juda." Rev. v. 5. A wealthy Hebrew of my tribe. Shak.