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Progenitor

//pɹoʊˈd͡ʒɛn.ɪ.tɚ// noun

Definitions

Noun
  1. 1
    A forefather, any of a person's direct ancestors.
  2. 2
    an ancestor in the direct line wordnet
  3. 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. 4
    An ancestral form of a species.
  5. 5
    A predecessor of something, especially if also a precursor or model. figuratively

    "ARPANET was the progenitor of the Internet."

Show 2 more definitions
  1. 6
    Someone who originates something. figuratively
  2. 7
    A founder.

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.

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