Progenitor Definition

prō-jĕnĭ-tər
progenitors
noun
progenitors
A forefather; ancestor in direct line.
Webster's New World
A source from which something develops; originator or precursor.
Webster's New World
An originator; a founder.
Progenitors of the new music.
American Heritage

An individual from whom one or more people (dynasty, tribe, nation...) are descended.

Abraham alias Ibrahim is the progenitor of both the Jewish and Arab peoples.
Wiktionary

(biology) An ancestral form of a species.

Wiktionary

Other Word Forms of Progenitor

Noun

Singular:
progenitor
Plural:
progenitors

Origin of Progenitor

  • Middle English progenitour from Old French progeniteur from Latin prōgenitor from prōgenitus past participle of prōgignere to beget prō- forward pro–1 gignere gen- to beget genə- in Indo-European roots

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

  • 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").

    From Wiktionary

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