Progenitor
/pɹoʊˈd͡ʒɛn.ɪ.tɚ/ noun
noun ·Moderate ·College level
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A forefather, any of a person's direct ancestors.
- 2 an ancestor in the direct line wordnet
- 3 A person from whom one or more people (dynasty, tribe, nation…) are descended.
"Abraham, alias Ibrahim, is the presumed progenitor of both the Jewish and Arab peoples."
- 4 An ancestral form of a species.
- 5 A predecessor of something, especially if also a precursor or model. figuratively
"ARPANET was the progenitor of the Internet."
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- 6 Someone who originates something. figuratively
- 7 A founder.
Example
More examples"In this manner, Japheth was considered the progenitor of the European nations, while the inhabitants of the greater portion of Asia were looked upon as the descendants of Shem; and those of Africa, of Ham."
Etymology
From Middle English progenitour, from Anglo-Norman progenitour, Middle French progeniteur (Modern French progéniteur), and their etymon Latin prōgenitor, from prōgenitus, perfect participle of prōgignere (“to beget”), itself from prō- (“forth”) + gignere (“to beget”). By surface analysis, pro- (“prior, fore-”) + genitor.