progenitor

Definition

A forefather, any of a person's direct ancestors.

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.

Example Sentences

• "Abraham, alias Ibrahim, is the presumed progenitor of both the Jewish and Arab peoples."
• "ARPANET was the progenitor of the Internet."
• "Are neural progenitor cells infected by Zika virus?"

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