progenitor

Etymology

Came from Middle English progenitour, from Anglo-Norman progenitour and Middle French progeniteur (Modern French progéniteur), all going back to Latin prōgenitor, from prōgenitus, the perfect participle of prōgignere (“to beget”), itself made up of prō- (“forth”) plus gignere (“to beget”). Looked at another way, it splits into pro- (“prior, fore-”) plus genitor.