progenitor
A forefather, any of a person's direct ancestorsA forefather, any of a person's direct ancestors.
» The progenitor of the human race was named Tom.
Meaning
6 sensesA forefather, any of a person's direct ancestors.
Ahn, Vorfahr, Vorfahre
прароди́тельprarodítelʹ, пре́докprédok
an ancestor in the direct line
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.
Stammvater, Urahn, Vorfahr
An ancestral form of a species.
Vorfahr, Vorfahre
(figuratively)A predecessor of something, especially if also a precursor or model.
ARPANET was the progenitor of the Internet.
Are neural progenitor cells infected by Zika virus?
Vorläufer
предте́чаpredtéča, предше́ственникpredšéstvennik
(figuratively)Someone who originates something.
Erzeuger, Erzeugerin
созда́тельsozdátelʹ, основа́тельosnovátelʹ
A founder.
Examples
4 sentencesThe progenitor of the human race was named Tom.
Our progenitor was a blacksmith.
Our progenitor was a preeminent rabbi in Lodz.
The high priest Aaron is said to be the progenitor of the Jewish priests, the kohanim.
Translations
6 languagesBy meaning 3
By meaning 4
Origin
From Middle English progenitour, from Anglo-Norman progenitour, Middle French progeniteurFrom 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.
Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
Forms
plural: progenitors| Singular | progenitor |
|---|---|
| Plural | progenitors |
regular
Synonyms
3 synonyms- an ancestor in the direct line:primogenitor