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forefather
fore·fa·ther
/
ˈfɔrˌfɑ
ðər, ˈfoʊr-
/
Show Spelled
[
fawr
-fah-
th
er,
fohr
-
]
Show IPA
noun
an ancestor.
Origin:
1250–1300;
Middle English
forefader.
See
fore-
,
father
Related forms
fore·fa·ther·ly,
adjective
Synonyms
forebear, progenitor, patriarch, forerunner.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
Cite This Source
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Link To
forefather
Collins
World English Dictionary
forefather
(ˈfɔːˌfɑːðə)
—
n
an ancestor, esp a male
'forefatherly
—
adj
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source
Relevant Questions
Who Are The Forefathers?
What Are Forefathers?
Who Are The Forefathers?
What Are Forefathers?
00:10
Forefather
is a GRE word you need to know.
So is
forethought
. Does it mean:
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foresail
. Does it mean:
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forejudge
. Does it mean:
to guess in advance
thoughtful provision beforehand; provident care; prudence.
staysail set immediately forward of the mainmast of a boat
a person in charge of a particular department, group of workers, etc., as in a factory or the like.
to determine an opinion beforehand
to abstain or refrain from; do without.
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Etymonline
Word Origin & History
forefather
"ancestor," c.1300, from
fore
+
father
; perhaps directly from O.N. forfaðir.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
Cite This Source
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