English Explanatory Dictionary

forefather

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. An ancestor.
  2. A cultural ancestor; one who originated an idea or tradition.

Pronunciation

fôʹfäthə /ˈfɔːˌfɑːðə/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-forefather.wav fôrʹfäthər /ˈfɔɹˌfɑːðɚ/

Word forms

forefather forefathers

Etymology

From Middle English forefader, forfader, vorvader, from Old English forefæder (“forefather”), but possibly also merged with Old Norse forfaðir. Equivalent to fore- + father. Compare Dutch voorvader (“forefather”), German Vorvater, Vorfahr (“forefather”), Danish forfader (“forefather”), Swedish förfader (“forefather”).

Related words

foresister

Derived words

forefatherly

Translations

Bulgarian: предтеча Czech: praotec Khiamniungan Naga: pàusǜpòu Polish: przodek
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