gens

gens

gens , ancient Roman kinship group. It was the counterpart of what is known in other societies as a patrilineal clan or sib, and the word has been used in social science as a generic term for such groupings. The members of the Roman gens were descended (or assumed to be descended) from a common ancestor, whose name was used by all the members of the group. The second name was the gens name (e.g., Tullius in Marcus Tullius Cicero). The members were united in worship of the common ancestor, and marriage within the gens was discouraged. In early Rome the gens had economic, political, religious, and social functions; it later came to mean little more than a family name. The Greek gens ( genos ) was similar to the Roman.

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"gens." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Encyclopedia.com. 26 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

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"gens." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Retrieved May 26, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-gens.html

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gens

gens / jenz/ • n. (pl. gen·tes / ˈjentēz/ ) 1. a group of families in ancient Rome who shared a name and claimed a common origin. 2. Anthropol. a group of people who are related through their male ancestors.

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"gens." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. 26 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

"gens." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. (May 26, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-gens.html

"gens." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Retrieved May 26, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-gens.html

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gens

gens See PHRATRY.

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GORDON MARSHALL. "gens." A Dictionary of Sociology. 1998. Encyclopedia.com. 26 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

GORDON MARSHALL. "gens." A Dictionary of Sociology. 1998. Encyclopedia.com. (May 26, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O88-gens.html

GORDON MARSHALL. "gens." A Dictionary of Sociology. 1998. Retrieved May 26, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O88-gens.html

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gens

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"gens." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. 26 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

"gens." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. (May 26, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-gens.html

"gens." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Retrieved May 26, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-gens.html

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Free newspaper and magazine articles

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Newspaper article from: Daily Herald (Arlington Heights, IL); 11/5/2008
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Magazine article from: World Literature Today; 5/1/2004
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Magazine article from: Anthropologie et Societ&#233;s; 1/1/1996

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