parentage
nounEtymology From Middle French, from Old French parentage.
1
The identity and nature of one's parents, and in particular, the legitimacy of one's birth.
- I am a Lord, for so my deedes ſhall prooue, And yet a ſhepheard by my Parentage: […]c. 1587–1588 (date written), [Christopher Marlowe], Tamburlaine the Great. […] The First Part […], 2nd edition, part 1, London: […] [R. Robinson for] Richard Iones, […], published 1592, →OCLC; reprinted as Tamburlaine the Great (A Scolar Press Facsimile), Menston, Yorkshire; London: Scolar Press, 1973, →ISBN, Act I, scene ii:
- English gentlemen, after all, do not discriminate against each other on the grounds of parentage, only of breeding.1986, John le Carré, A Perfect Spy:
2
The social quality of one's class in society.
- My fortunes parentage — good parentage — To equal mine! — was it not thus? What say you?c. 1607–1608 (date written), William Shakespeare, [George Wilkins?], The Late, and Much Admired Play, Called Pericles, Prince of Tyre. […], London: […] [William White and Thomas Creede] for Henry Gosson, […], published 1609, →OCLC, [Act V, scene i]:
- Mr. Worthington. Second son. We shall find better. He is of dubious parentage.2020 December 25, Chris Van Dusen, “Diamond of the First Water”, in Bridgerton, season 1, episode 1, spoken by Anthony Bridgerton:
3
Figuratively Origin; derivation.
- Derived terms
- mixed parentage
- Related terms
- parentship, parentdom