1. group of persons who are related by blood; group of things which are related; plants or animals of the same genera. of a family, of a group of relatives. familyfami*ly , n.; pl. families (#). [l. familia, fr. famulus servant; akin to oscan famel servant, cf. faamat he dwells, skr. dhāman house, fr. dhāto set, make, do: cf. f. famille. cf. do, v. t., doom, fact, feat.]