English Explanatory Dictionary

grandfather

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. A father of someone's parent.
  2. A male forefather.
  3. The archived older version of a file that immediately preceded the father file.
verb
  1. To be, or act as, a grandfather to.
verb
  1. To retain discontinued laws or rules for (an object, individual or organization previously affected by them).

Pronunciation

/ˈɡɹæn(d)ˌfɑːðə(r)/ en-uk-grandfather.ogg /ˈɡɹændˌfɑːðə/ grănd′fäthər /ˈɡɹæn(d)ˌfɑðɚ/ [ˈɡɹ̠(ʷ)ẽˑə̯̃n(d)ˌfɑˑðɚ] en-us-grandfather.ogg en-au-grandfather.ogg

Word forms

grandfather grandfathers grandfathering grandfathered

Etymology

The noun is derived from Middle English grandfadre, graundfadir, graunfadir, grauntfader, and other forms, from graunt (“big, large; great, important”) + fā̆der (“male parent, father; remoter male ancestor”), probably modelled after Middle French grandpere, grant pere (“male parent; remoter male ancestor”) (whence French grand-père); the English word is analysable as grand- + father. Superseded earlier eldfather, elderfather. The verb is derived from the noun.

Synonyms

ayle elderfather eldfather goodsire gramp grampa gramps grampop gran granda grandad grandaddy granddad granddaddy grandfather grandpa grandpap grandpapa grandpappy grandpaw grandpop grandsire granfer granpappy granther nonno pa pap papa papaw pappaw pappy pawpaw peepaw pepaw pop-pop poppy zayde highfather grandfather in

Antonyms

grandmother grandchild granddaughter grandson abuela baba babcia babulya /babulia (chiefly in Eastern European (especially Russian) contexts) babushka babusia babusya /babusia beldame bubbe eldermother eldmother gammy gram gramma grammy gran grandam grandma grandma'am grandmamma grandmammy grandmaw grandmom grandmomma grandmommy grandmum grandmumma grandmummy grannam granny granum mamaw mamgu mammaw meemaw memaw meme mimi mommom nan nana nanna nanny nonna oma sitty

Related words

old man

Derived words

co-grandfather GILF grandfather chair grandfather clause grandfather clock grandfatherhood grandfather-in-law grandfatherish grandfatherism grandfatherless grandfatherly grandfather paradox grandfather rights grandfathership grandfather shirt great-grandfather great-great-grandfather great great great grandfather stepgrandfather you kiss your grandfather with that mouth grandfathering
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