descendants

descendants
    n 1: all of the offspring of a given progenitor; "we must secure
         the benefits of freedom for ourselves and our posterity"
         [syn: {descendants}, {posterity}]
    

descendants \descendants\ n.
   all of the offspring of a given progenitor.

   Syn: posterity.
        [WordNet 1.5]
    

DESCENDANTS. Those who have issued from an individual, and include his 
children, grandchildren, and their children to the remotest degree. Ambl. 
327 2 Bro. C. C. 30; Id. 230 3 Bro. C. C. 367; 1 Rop. Leg. 115; 2 Bouv. n. 
1956. 
     2. The descendants form what is called the direct descending line. Vide 
Line. The term is opposed to that of ascendants. (q.v.) 
     3. There is a difference between the number of ascendants and 
descendants which a man may have every one his the same order of ascendants, 
though they may not be exactly alike as to numbers, because some may be 
descended from a common ancestor. In the line of descendants they fork 
differently, according to the number of children and continue longer or 
shorter as generations continue or cease to exist. Many families become 
extinct, while others continue; the line of descendants is therefore 
diversified in each family.