Our new 'Word Of The Day' article update : gens , n :
(Ancient Rome, historical) A legally defined unit of Roman society, being a collection of people related through a common ancestor by birth, marriage or adoption, possibly over many generations, and sharing the same nomen gentilicium. (anthropology) A tribal subgroup whose members are characterized by having the same descent, usually along the male line. Rome is traditionally regarded as having been founded on this day.