Descendant facts for kids
A descendant is someone who comes from a particular person or group of people who lived before them. Think of it like a family tree: you are a descendant of your parents, grandparents, and so on.
The word "descendant" can also mean other things, like a later version of something or a part of a system.
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Family Connections
When we talk about family, a descendant is a person who is related to someone who lived before them. This connection is usually through blood, meaning they share genes.
Direct Descendants
A lineal descendant is a direct family member, like a child, grandchild, or great-grandchild. They are in a straight line down your family tree. For example, your son is your lineal descendant, and his son is your grandson, also a lineal descendant.
Other Family Links
A collateral descendant is a relative who shares a common ancestor with you, but not in a direct line. For instance, your cousin is a collateral descendant because you both share grandparents, but neither of you is a direct child of the other.
In Movies and TV Shows
The word "Descendants" is often used in the titles of films and TV shows, especially when the story is about characters who are related to famous or important people.
Popular Films
- Descendant (2003 film): This is a thriller movie.
- Descendants (2008 film): An animated short film that won the Tokyo Anime Award in 2009.
- The Descendants (2011 film): A drama film starring George Clooney, which tells the story of a man reconnecting with his daughters.
- Descendant (2022 film): A documentary film released on Netflix.
The Disney Channel Franchise
The Descendants is a very popular series of musical fantasy films from Disney Channel. These movies are about the teenage children of famous Disney villains, like Maleficent and Cruella De Vil. They get a chance to live in the kingdom of Auradon with the children of Disney heroes.
- Descendants (2015 film): This was the first movie in the Disney Channel series, introducing the main characters and their adventures.
- Descendants (soundtrack): The soundtrack for the first Disney Channel film, featuring many popular songs from the movie.
Music Group
- Descendents: This is a well-known punk rock band from Southern California. They formed in 1978 and are famous for their fast-paced songs.
Other Meanings
The word "descendant" can also describe parts of a system or structure.
In Computer Science
In computer science, especially when talking about how information is organized, a "descendant" can be a smaller part that comes from a larger one. Imagine a family tree for computer files; a subfolder is a descendant of the main folder.
In Hierarchies
A subordinate is someone or something that is lower in rank or importance within a system or organization. You could think of them as a "descendant" in a hierarchy, meaning they report to someone higher up.
See Also
- Descendance: This is an Australian Aboriginal dance company that started in 1999. They perform traditional dances.
- Ancestor: This is the opposite of a descendant. An ancestor is a person from whom you are descended, like a grandparent or great-grandparent.
- Ascendant: This is also the opposite of a descendant, often used in astrology.
