progenitor

Meaning

1. A forefather, any of a person's direct ancestors.
2. A person from whom one or more people (dynasty, tribe, nation…) are descended.
3. An ancestral form of a species.
4. A predecessor of something, especially if also a precursor or model.
5. Someone who originates something.
6. A founder.

Synonyms

ancestor

forefather

father

👨‍👦

parent

primogenitor

begetter

forebear

root

old-timer

forbear

source

founder

forerunner

originator

hub

mainspring

mother

👩‍🍼

occasion

origin

original

precursor

predecessor

predecessors

producer

reason

script

senior

spring

stepchild

stepson

stirps

superior

original copy

older graduate

parents

he who begets

stock of a family

reserved copy

progenitor star

principal edition

eldmother

eldfather

ancestress

ascendant

beginning

cause

chief

commencement

elder

emperor

foregoer

fount

fountainhead

genitor

head

Pronounced as (IPA)

/pɹəʊˈd͡ʒɛn.ɪ.tə/

Etymology

From Middle English, from Middle French progeniteur (Modern French progéniteur), from Latin progenitor, from progenitus, perfect participle of progignere (“to beget”), itself from pro- (“forth”) + gignere (“to beget”).