progeniture
(prəʊˈdʒɛnɪtjʊə(r))
[f. L. prōgenit-, ppl. stem of prōgign-ĕre to beget + -ure: cf. geniture. So F. progéniture (1835 in Dict. Acad.).]
1. Begetting of offspring; generation.
| 1801 Hel. M. Williams Sk. Fr. Rep. I. v. 38 His immense domain which descended in long succession of progeniture from his remote ancestry. 1831 T. Hope Ess. Origin Man II. 21 All organic and living individuals after a time acquire the power of propagating their species by a new progeniture. 1855 W. H. Mill Applic. Panth. Princ. (1861) 217 All ancient testimonies respecting the Cerinthians ascribe to them also this notion of the purely celestial progeniture of the Christ. |
2. Offspring, progeny.
| 1893 Pall Mall Mag. I. 38 A state of highly-strung nerves in our progeniture that may some day land them in continuous invalidism. 1894 Marquis of Salisbury Addr. Brit. Assoc. Oxford 8 Aug., It is effected by their action in crossing, by their skill in bringing the right mates together to produce the progeniture they want. |