family-tree theory
[ fam-uh-lee tree, fam-lee- ]
/ ˈfæm ə li ˈtri, ˈfæm li- /
noun Historical Linguistics.
a theory that describes language change in terms of genetically related languages developing in successive splits from a common parent language, such as Indo-European, as depicted by a family tree diagram.
Compare
wave theory.
Origin of family-tree theory
First recorded in 1930–35
Words nearby family-tree theory
family support,
family therapy,
family tree,
family values,
family way,
family-tree theory,
famine,
famish,
famished,
famotidine,
famous