progenitor
Pronunciation
  • (British) IPA: /pɹəʊˈdʒɛn.ɪ.tə/, /pɹəˈdʒɛn.ə.tə/
  • (America) IPA: /pɹoʊˈdʒɛn.ɪ.tɚ/, /pɹəˈdʒɛn.ə.tɚ/
Noun

progenitor (plural progenitors)

  1. A forefather, any of a person's direct ancestors.
    Synonyms: ancestor, forefather
    cot en
  2. An individual from whom one or more people (dynasty, tribe, nation...) are descended.
    Abraham alias Ibrahim is the progenitor of both the Jewish and Arab peoples.
  3. (biology) An ancestral form of a species.
  4. (figuratively) A predecessor of something, especially if also a precursor or model.
    ARPANET was the progenitor of the Internet.
    Are neural progenitor cells infected by Zika virus?
  5. (figuratively) Someone who originates something.
  6. A founder.
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