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progenitor

Pronunciation: /pɹəʊˈd͡ʒɛn.ɪ.tə/

The English word “progenitor” has 6 meanings listed here.

noun

  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.

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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