2. The group comprising a husband and wife and their
dependent children, constituting a fundamental unit in the
organization of society.
The welfare of the family underlies the welfare of
society. --H. Spencer.
3. Those who descend from one common progenitor; a tribe,
clan, or race; kindred; house; as, the human family; the
family of Abraham; the father of a family.
Go ! and pretend your family is young. --Pope.
4. Course of descent; genealogy; line of ancestors; lineage.
5. Honorable descent; noble or respectable stock; as, a man
of family.
6. A group of kindred or closely related individuals; as, a
family of languages; a family of States; the chlorine
family.
7. (Biol.) A group of organisms, either animal or vegetable,
related by certain points of resemblance in structure or
development, more comprehensive than a genus, because it
is usually based on fewer or less pronounced points of
likeness. In zo["o]logy a family is less comprehesive than
an order; in botany it is often considered the same thing
as an order.
{Family circle}. See under {Circle}.
{Family man}.
(a) A man who has a family; esp., one who has a wife and
children living with him andd dependent upon him.
(b) A man of domestic habits. ``The Jews are generally,
when married, most exemplary family men.'' --Mayhew.
{Family of} {curves or surfaces} (Geom.), a group of curves
or surfaces derived from a single equation.
{In a family way}, like one belonging to the family. ``Why
don't we ask him and his ladies to come over in a family
way, and dine with some other plain country gentlefolks?''
--Thackeray.
{In the family way}, pregnant. [Colloq.]