(~s)
Frequency: The word is one of the 3000 most common words in English.
1.
You can refer to the beginning, cause, or source of something as its ~ or ~s.
...theories about the ~ of life...
The disorder in military policy had its ~s in Truman’s first term...
Their medical problems are basically physical in ~...
Most of the thickeners are of plant ~.
N-COUNT: usu with poss, also in/of N
2.
When you talk about a person’s ~ or ~s, you are referring to the country, race, or social class of their parents or ancestors.
Thomas has not forgotten his humble ~s.
...people of Asian ~...
They are forced to return to their country of ~.
N-COUNT: usu poss N, also of/in N