forefather
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fore·fa·ther
(fôr′fä′thər)n.
1. An ancestor. See Synonyms at ancestor.
2. A person who is from an earlier time and has originated or contributed to a common tradition shared by a particular group.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
forefather
(ˈfɔːˌfɑːðə)n
an ancestor, esp a male
ˈforeˌfatherly adj
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
fore•fa•ther
(ˈfɔrˌfɑ ðər, ˈfoʊr-)n.
an ancestor; progenitor.
[1250–1300]
fore′fa`ther•ly, adj.
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
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Noun | 1. | forefather - the founder of a family; "keep the faith of our forefathers" ancestor, antecedent, ascendant, ascendent, root - someone from whom you are descended (but usually more remote than a grandparent) patriarch - any of the early biblical characters regarded as fathers of the human race |
2. | forefather - person from an earlier time who contributed to the tradition shared by some group; "our forefathers brought forth a great nation" predecessor - one who precedes you in time (as in holding a position or office) |
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
forefather
noun ancestor, father, predecessor, forerunner, forebear, progenitor, procreator, primogenitor They went back to the land of their forefathers.
Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002
forefather
nounA person from whom one is descended:
Archaic: predecessor.
The American Heritage® Roget's Thesaurus. Copyright © 2013, 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Translations
esi-isä
Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005
Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007