noun
progenitor
Progenitor (noun) means a direct ancestor of a person, such as a parent or grandparent.
noun
1
A direct ancestor of a person, such as a parent or grandparent.
2
The original person that a family, tribe or nation traces its line back to.
"Abraham, alias Ibrahim, is the presumed progenitor of both the Jewish and Arab peoples."
3
An ancestral form of a species.
4
An earlier form or version that something else later developed from.
"Are neural progenitor cells infected by Zika virus?"
"ARPANET was the progenitor of the Internet."
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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.
Synonyms
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primogenitor
Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for progenitor
editor
suitor
monitor
traitor
visitor
janitor
auditor
creditor
capacitor
solicitor
inhibitor
competitor
See all rhymes for progenitor →
Frequently asked questions
What is the meaning of progenitor?
"progenitor" (noun) means a direct ancestor of a person, such as a parent or grandparent.
What is another word for progenitor?
Other words for "progenitor" include primogenitor.
What is the opposite of progenitor?
Opposites of "progenitor" include descendant, offspring.
What are the different meanings of progenitor?
"progenitor" has 3 main meanings: 1. A direct ancestor of a person, such as a parent or grandparent; 2. The original person that a family, tribe or nation traces its line back to; 3. An ancestral form of a species.
